Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! I hope that you achieve all of the goals that you set for yourselves. Don't party too hard tonight.

Nice Holiday

My family had a very nice Christmas. All of our relatives from Michigan, New York, and Florida came to our house. This was the first time all of us were together in a few years. Including myself, there were 13 kids present. I, for once, was not the oldest of the kids. My cousin Thomas, who is 16, came from Kalamazoo. It was awesome, all of the youngins were gravitating toward him rather than myself. However, i was at the bottom of a dogpile. I was chilling on the floor with my dog, when his royal highness Ryan shouted "Tackle Him!!" Then ten or so overly hyper kids jumped me. Not a very lovely feeling gasping for air. Those moronic family portraits we took at Sears a couple of weeks ago made their grand appearance over the fireplace. Apparently they were a hit with the adults. The kids beg to differ. I made out pretty well. I asked for an iPod touch and received an iPhone instead. I haven't had a chance to play around with it too much but it seems pretty cool. Naturally I received plenty of cycling stuff. My uncle replaced my broken down trainer with a shiny new one. Thanks Uncle Mike! I also received new gloves (my hands were busting out of my old ones), and new sunglasses. Pretty sweet. I'll tally everything up and make a post. Just having everyone together made the holiday fun. When all of us are together, fun is guaranteed. My mom and my aunt Helen were dancing to Van Halen in the middle of the living room and making complete fools of themselves. I've got that on video. Anyway, I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. There's still one more holiday to go!

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone has a nice holiday!!!

Stay Away from the Mall!!!

I wanted to go to the mall this morning and pick up a couple of gifts for my cousins, boy was that a bad idea. It took my mom forever to find a parking spot. And then it took forever to make our way through Macy's just to get into the mall. Needless to say I didn't buy anything. We're going to go tomorrow instead.

Sigh of Relief

I am finally done with my school project...not to mention school for the year. I'll be off for the next two weeks. That stupid project took me weeks to finish. I was nice enough and lent a helping hand to a few of my classmates who were in dire need of help. I don't blame them for needing help. This was a toughie. I had my dad helping me too. I'm going to try and post it on my blog, but it may require some trial and error. Now it's time to kick back and relax.

Holiday Cards

What a disaster Saturday's picture-fest turned out to be. Apparently my Brady Bunch family isn't the only one who does these picture cards for the holidays. There were so many people lined up in Sears I couldn't believe it. We had to wait almost an hour before we were taken. I was getting a laugh though. For some reason all I kept thinking of was that photo of Will Ferrell and John Reilly for the movie Step Brothers. If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here. My cousin Ryan and I were clowning around and we actually took a photo together just like that. That was the only good that came out of that day. We couldn't even have California Pizza Kitchen. We had to settle for Sbarro's, which doesn't sit well with me for some reason.

Pictures

Would you believe my parents and my aunt & uncle are making my cousins and I go and take photos together? They decided it would be a good idea to send out those Christmas cards with pictures of their children on it. I am not happy about this. I don't need my scary picture being passed all over the continental United States. We're also taking a big family picture to display on Christmas at our house. There's going to be a lot of cracked picture frames around the country. Better let Santa know you need a backup frame. I'm starting to think my family is related to the Brady Bunch.

Aggrevating Report

This report for English is consuming all of my free time and all of my patience. So far, I've finished five pages out of eight. This has to be submitted by next Friday.

Guitar Lessons

My lessons have been going pretty well. I'm pretty confident in reading sheet music now. That wasn't so hard since I know how to read it for piano and trumpet. I need to work on transferring the notes I read to my fingers though. My teacher is awesome and very patient. Aside from doing scales, he's been letting me tackle some songs from select bands. Since finger tapping is something I can't do yet, I had to omit Van Halen from my requests. So I was attempting to play Back in Black by AC/DC. I'll spare you the details. My rendition would've made Angus Young keel over. I mutilated it. But let me tell you, I appreciate guitarists even more now.

Hobby?

In English class today, we were talking about hobbies. Talk about a really boring conversation. I can't believe someone actually collects insects as a hobby. Not that there's anything wrong with that. So when the teacher asked me, naturally I said music and then I paused. I didn't know if I should consider cycling a hobby. There are those that casually ride on the weekends, or maybe once or twice during the week. Then there are those who compete and spend most of their week training. As for myself, I lean more towards the latter. So I really didn't know if I should've mentioned it. After about five seconds of dead air, my friend Anthony blurted out "cycling!". I guess it is a hobby. Someone needs to come up with a word for this. It's in between hobby and obsession.

School Project

I am working on a school project for my English class that involves manipulating photos digitally. Cue the new Photoshop my dad brought home a couple of weeks ago. I decided to play around with it before delving into my project. Soooooo, I kind of went a little nuts and animated the header at the top of the page. Yeah, I think I'm losing it. It took me a bit, but I figured out how to import animated gifs into blogger. It's a pain in the - - -! Depending on how insane I feel, I may do more. Something tells me I'll never hear the end of this.

MySpace / Facebook

I was getting a lecture last night from my friend Jason on why I should create a myspace and facebook account. The argument lasted about a half hour until I finally shut him up and said I'd think about it. It's not that I'm against it, I'm just being weary of the thousands of fake people that are on there. Knowing me, I'll probably break down and create a profile.

Peace and Quiet

Everybody has finally evacuated my house. Most of my family who came from afar have stayed here since Wednesday. There was not much room to accommodate everyone so some had to stay in a hotel. I had to share my bed with my cousin Andy. This kid is like the energizer bunny. Where he gets his never-ending amount of energy is beyond my comprehension. He kept me up most of the night wanting to play playstation. And yes he still rocks at guitar hero. My other cousin Ryan broke his arm by tripping in school. I felt bad for him, he has a cast from his wrist up to his shoulder. So needless to say he couldn't do much physical activity. Overall it was a very nice holiday. As much as my family can drive me crazy, we're still assured a good time when everyone's together. I hope everyone had a nice holiday.

To All My Friends, Family & Readers

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Football

I'm really elated that I cheer for two football teams. Because if I only supported the Lions, I would be writing my blogs from a bright white padded room. Normally when a team makes history, it's a good thing. When history happens because you can't win a game, that's blasphemy. I give up, I really do. I care too much that's my problem. Fortunately for my sanity, I cheer for the Giants as well who capped off a nice win tonight against Arizona. Nobody can stop that defensive line. I've heard people saying that the Super Bowl could be a battle for New York. Wouldn't that be something. Brett Favre has the Jets riding a pretty sweet winning streak. How fitting would it be to see the Giants smash Favre a second time in the playoffs, albeit in a different uniform.

I Love This

0-10

Can't the Lions win one stinking game?!

Sitting Idle

So I've decided to sit out of sports until next spring. I was kinda persuaded by my dad to do so. We'll leave it at that. It'll be hard for my competitive side to sit idle and I'll have to fight myself but I'm confident I can control those urges. I'll still be spending quality time with my bike of course. Cycling will be the primary focus from here on out. I feel a good year is coming for me and blue. As I'm writing this, my skin is crawling...my mother is singing along with I believe Kenny Rogers. Save me from music oblivion please!! Off to school, peace.

Boring Day

Why must it rain on the weekends? I haven't rode my bike outside in what seems like an eternity. I have been riding on the rollers every now and then but would like a new trainer since the other one was damaged in the move. One of my dad's friends gave him a copy of the new Photoshop which comes with all of the bells and whistles. I'll be toying with this all day. Now I at least have a program to replace Windows Movie Maker which I can't stand using anymore.

Another Clothing Mishap

I'm up to my old tricks again. Since it has been cold and rainy here in Michigan lately, much warmer clothes have been needed. I desperately needed to wash a few of my fleeces and hoodies so that I would have something to wear to school. Needless to say, my mom was not around to supervise my laundry operation (we know why supervision is needed). Wellllllll, I kinda forgot to take my clothes out of the washing machine. They were sitting in there soaked from the time I came home to right before I started this post. That's about 8 hours. Now my clothes absolutely stink! Why do clothes smell so repulsive after they have been sitting in the machine wet for awhile? What's the purpose of Tide? I have once again been reminded that I am to stay away from the washer and dryer. LOL!

Cell Phones

OK I don't understand something. Yesterday in Bio class, this kid Jordan got busted for texting on his cell phone. The nitwit was texting his friend that was sitting two seats to his left. Are you kidding me?!?!? What is so important that it couldn't wait for lunch or even between periods? I also want to know who everybody is on the phone with in the halls between periods. Are they calling their bookie or their stock broker? I don't feel the need to call my friends to find out what part of the school they're in. I know where they are. I think I'm starting to sound like my dad it's really scary.

Thanksgiving

Even though it's three weeks away, I need to prepare for this. I just found out that we will be holding the festivities at my house this year. That means all of my cousins will be running around my house leaving a trail of chaos behind them. I better secure the valuables now. Here's where I miss New York. Last year we went to the Macy's parade and then to Central Park before retiring to a quiet home to stuff turkey in our faces. That was fun. I must admit though, I'd rather be here in Michigan. I think my mother said there will be close to 40 people here. That's a lot of Knight's and Manfre's.

Picking Up Bad Habits

For the last couple of weeks I have been picking up some really bad habits that I need to purge. One of them has been over-sleeping / sleeping late on the weekends. Today I didn't get up until 11:00. That's quite unusual for me, a person who's normally the first to get out of bed in my house. What a waste of a Sunday. I missed the bus twice in the last two weeks because I couldn't get my lazy hide out of bed. Maybe I need to start drinking coffee in the morning.

Swimming?

So as many know I've been toying with the idea of trying another sport to keep me busy over the non-cycling/non-baseball season. I've been brainstorming and may have come up with one. While searching the web, I found a club based out of Ann Arbor for swimming. Since I enjoy the water, I fugure that would be a good sport to try. I spoke to my dad about this and he thinks I should relax for the winter. I don't want to. I may or may not go forward with this. I'm not sure yet.

Recruiting

I may have convinced one of my friends to consider taking up cycling next year. My friend Anthony actually is expressing interest. I say actually because it seems like everybody I talk to about the sport either makes a face or judges it harshly. He already has a road bike which he rides occasionally and he's watched a couple of races and it's peaking his interest. It'll be a much easier transition for me if I had somebody to ride and train with. The question is: can he devote his time to do it? I think he can. I wanted to go out today with him but it appears it's going to rain.

Dressing Up

I have decided to go ahead and dress up for tomorrow. I can't let an easy A get away. I have decided to go as Jigsaw. I have the mask, I just need a red bowtie to go with my black suit and my sneakers. Since I do the voice pretty well it only seemed fitting to dress up as a psychotic puppet.

Football

It just dawned on me that I haven't expressed my thoughts on this season so far. Can someone please tell me why I watch the Lions this season? 0-7?! I know I'm loyal but there must come a point where I have to wave the white flag. I can't remember a winning season anymore. I should be used to this by now. I'm a little disappointed I haven't been able to see most of the Giants games. They are really playing superb football. Last weeks victory over Pittsburgh was extraordinary. They play the annoying Cowboys (yeah Jason), minus Tony Romo on Sunday. This should be fun to watch. I hear they've been plucking people out of the crowd to play defense since mostly everybody's hurt. But still, they are 5-3 and can be quite pesky.

Halloween

I'm actually being required to come to school on Friday dressed up. I think my English teacher has completely lost her mind. We are being graded on it I can't believe this. In one way it's a good thing because if we come to class dressed up, we get an automatic A that will replace our worst test grade. But on the other hand I'm really not that ecstatic about wearing a costume to school. Home is one thing, but walking around the hallways is another. I need to hit up Party City unless I can concoct something from my closet.

???

I have no idea what happened to my post on Friday. Anyway, yesterday was a fun day. My parents and I went up to Howell to the outlet stores. I'm usually not a fan of shopping unless it involves bikes or Best Buy, but I actually enjoyed myself. I hope I'm not getting too lax. I picked up some new winter clothes since I seem to be growing at an exponential rate. Last I checked, I was up near 5'10. Ate lunch at Sbarro's and then went home. I would seriously consider going up there more if they had an outlet store for cycling stuff. I think that's a great idea because cycling can be an expensive sport. I spent the night at Jason's house and we were up until 2 playing Rock Band 2. My fingers are tired. I have massive amounts of homework to do so that's what my Sunday wll entail. Later!

-

It's Report Time

At least a speech isn't involved this time. My economics teacher has assigned us a five page report due next Friday. Just in time for Halloween. It's kind of a no-brainer what the topic is about - the current economic meltdown. I have to explain why this country is in a complete mess financially. I also have to provide solutions and ideas on how to fix it. Hey, if our government doesn't know how to fix it, how is a 15 year old going to know?

Quick Nap

Today I did something I've never done before...I fell asleep in class. Obviously there are some classes that can be a little more boring than others, but it has never gotten to the point where I would fall asleep. Let's just say I'm not a huge fan of my biology class. My teacher was showing a powerpoint presentation of plants and stuff and I suddenly became narcoleptic.
Everyone knows that feeling, the eyelids grow heavy and your head starts to snap up and down in an attempt to keep you awake. Well my head fell backwards with my mouth hanging wide open and I dozed off. Thankfully I don't snore. The nap quickly ended when I heard my name called and my teacher asking to repeat what he just said. I must've looked like a deer caught in a car's headlights. I had no answer. I think I'll be going to bed early tonight.

New Kit

My dad has been talking with this guy Ray who is a salesman for Pearl Izumi while he's been doing a job up by Pontiac. He must've mentioned that a) I am a cyclist and b) that some of my clothes have vanished from the move. Ray is hooking us up with some apparel and some accessories for severely discounted prices. Needless to say, my dad came home today with arm warmers and bike shorts for me. I'm a little hesitant about wearing them outside though. They are replicas of team Slipstream's kit. The shorts I can wear for indoor training but I cannot see myself riding outside in full Slipstream gear. Last I checked, the Pyrenees Mountains were not located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that's for sure. The jersey is apparently the next thing I'm getting from Ray and that would complete the kit. Hmmm..this would make a good Halloween costume.

Here We Go Again

Gym was interesting today to say the least. We were playing football outside on the field by the track. My gym class has some very dangerous individuals in it. By dangerous I mean something stupid always happens when these people are around. These people include myself (obviously), my friend Anthony (1/3 of the triad of chaos, 'nuff said), my friend Taylor, this kid James, and this other kid Aaron. Together, the five of us can be lethal to all that are around us. The class is also made up of freshman who for some reason look miniscule to us sophomore. So, we're playing a really intense game of football. I was chosen to be quarterback today...oh boy. Let's just say my aim today was not so stellar. There was one play where I passed the ball to this freshman, I think his name is Jonas or Jonah I'm not too sure. The kid was wide open and for some reason when I passed the ball to him, he looked away and the ball smacked him in the side of the face. LOL! I had flashbacks of all the nasty things that happened to me last year in gym. I'm glad to not be on the receiving end of such physical abuse this time. Needless to say Anthony was on the floor laughing and he spent the entire day re-enacting it for everyone. I felt bad for this kid because I saw him later in the day and he had a red mark on his neck. LOL!!!

An Idea

I'm toying with the idea of making video blogs surrounding my guitar training. I feel this would be a good way to track my progress. For those who didn't know, I am going for lessons twice a week. I wanted to master another instrument besides the piano so naturally I chose my second favorite instrument. Anyway, I need to decide if this is a good idea. I know posting videos on youtube sometimes leads to nasty comments so that's why I'm hesitating. If blogger was more accessible to posting videos than I would use that instead.

Gone for the Weekend

I'll be spending the extended weekend with my cousins in Battle Creek this weekend. I'm setting myself up for disaster as I know I won't be getting any sleep with frick and frack running about. It'll be fun though. I haven't been to their house since Christmas. Ryan and I intend on duking it out again at Guitar Hero. I seriously think I'm an addict. I need to get my revenge on Andy. My cell phone isn't active yet as my dad is trying to have his number transferred to the new phone.

Aggrevated

I still can't find things from the move. My dad built me a closet organizer and I have a section of it devoted to all of my cycling stuff. I took inventory and I am now missing one jersey and my arm & leg warmers. To top it off, I took my noisy trainer out of the box and it has a huge dent in one of the bars. Now it wobbles. Can anybody guess what I'm adding to the Santa list? There is something positive to report today. My dad went out and bought a new cell phone for work. I am inheriting his old one. I guess I badgered them enough for one and they finally gave in.

Plans for Next Year

I'm already looking ahead to next spring. Being that this year was a complete wash-out for me, I'm determined to bounce back strong for 2009. I was discussing this with my friend Aaron at lunch yesterday in school. I've begun jotting down goals. Once I'm satisfied I'll post them here.

Congratulations to the Moose

Those who know me well know that I prefer the pitching aspect of the game of baseball over hitting. That's not to say I don't like watching sluggers jack balls out of the park. It's just that I appreciate the mental prowess a pitcher must have in order to keep his team in the game. The man pictured above is a perfect example of mental prowess. Mike Mussina doesn't blow hitters away with heat. His fastball can't even touch 90 mph anymore. He utilizes changes of speed and pinpoint location to make hitters look foolish. And today at 39 years old, he firmly cemented his status as being a hall of famer by picking up his 20th win of the season and the 270th of his career. Thanks for all the years of service that you provided. You better be back next year!

Undecided

I haven't decided on what sport I want to pursue. I'm not really a fan of basketball, so I don't think I would join that. I've been talking to some friends about this and whatever it is I join I may have a couple of them joining with me. Anyhow, I'm going out on my bike for a little while today.

One Terrible Night

I went to sleep last night around 10:30 with a bit of a sore throat. I woke up about three hours later in a complete daze. I was sweating, my heart was pounding through my chest, and my ears were ringing. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't want to wake my parents so I stumbled to the bathroom and dunked my face in the sink. I also took my temperature which was nearly at 102. That would explain the sweating and the heart pounding. I laid in bed for hours before I finally went to sleep. My alarm clock went off at 6:30 and I felt absolutely fine. The only problem was that I had no voice. Not taking no for an answer, my mother dragged me to my old doctor who I haven't seen in a couple of years. The culprit, laryngitis. Needless to say my parents are happy they get a few days without hearing me speak.

Nothing New

I have nothing new to blog about. The last week has been kind of blah. I've been thinking about joining a team sport in school during the fall/winter. I'm not sure which one though. It's been so long since I last competed in something. I'm going through withdrawal symptoms.

Farewell to the Cathedral

Baseball's greatest stage closes tonight. There's no better place in the world to watch a ballgame than at Yankee Stadium. The atmosphere and the aura surrounding the 85 year old ballpark is second to none. Growing up a Yankee fan in Michigan has not been easy, but I'm very fortunate that I was given the opportunity to see a few games played there. It's more than concrete and steel, it's living history. Rest in peace Yankee Stadium 1923-2008.

I'm Back

My CPU took a trip into oblivion. That would certainly explain why my computer was so unstable the last couple of weeks. Anyway, myself and my computer are back to blogging. I am really unhappy with the way my blog has laid so stagnant. I've been keeping pretty busy and that has taken time away from here. So here's a rundown of what's been plaguing my time:

1. Depressed that two baseball teams with mighty high payrolls (Yankees & Tigers) are not going to see the light of day in November. I have a theory which is up for discussion. The steroid era is coming to an end. All of the teams with the young talent are reigning supreme. Just look at the Rays. Where the heck did they come from? It just goes to show you that solid young pitching will mutilate any powerful offense. That's what they're doing and that's why they're succeeding. I am putting my money on the Cubs though to win it this year. This is a franchise that is looooooooooong overdue for a championship and they have some pretty solid talent. There's my two cents. As for next year, both the Tigers and the Yankees need to put some of that dough into restocking the minors with young arms. The Yankees have some, but they aren't polishd yet.

2. Giants - 2 -0 Good start. I'm getting used to life without the two best defensive ends playing.
Patriots - 2-0 w/o Tom Brady (bleh) don't really care about this
Lions - (sigh)

3. End of cycling season - Signals winter is just around the corner. This is a sensitive topic of conversation for me.

4. I have my first test of the new school year this Friday in Chemistry. Couldn't come any quicker I guess.

Computer Crash

My computer completely crashed on Tuesday while I was doing my homework. I was creating an Excel sheet for math, and all of a sudden the screen turned blue and froze. My dad took the computer to the "Geek Squad" at Best Buy. I'm using his laptop in the meantime.

Blog Salesman

I have been trying to get a bunch of my friends to create blogs. You know who you are. If I have to create it for you I will. I will eventually be disallowing people without a blogger account to post on my blog. I have been deleting way too much spam lately and it's driving me crazy.

New School

My first two days of school went really well as did my first couple of days as a 15 year old. I was back with a lot of my old friends and I've actually been reacquainting myself with people I haven't seen since elementary school. Something funny has already happened. If you remember, a couple of weeks ago, I ran into this kid in the mall that insisted he saw me last year in school. Well believe it or not I have chemistry class with him. And he still insists he saw me last year. LOL. I still feel kind of weird. Even though I know a lot of these kids, I still feel like a stranger due to me missing a year here. I'm sure that'll wear off soon. Anyway, something disturbing happened to me this morning when I woke up. I went to go reach for something in my closet and I felt a tinge in my arm. Nothing painful just a weird sensation. I'm getting it checked out next week just to be safe. My sanity can't take another hit like it did earlier this year. Football starts tonight, I will be excited to see if the Giants can defend their title. Without Osi Umenyiora they are weaker defensively. Anything can happen. I use that phrase for the Lions as well.

Sorry

I have been absent for almost a week and I apologize. We had a family illness that had us spending the last week or so in Battle Creek. Everything is fine I'm happy to say. I'll be back with another post later after I come back from school shopping.

Another Ride

I have been informed that my cousins are staying through to Sunday. I am downright exhausted. But I need to muster up some more energy from somewhere because my dad is taking Ryan and I out again tomorrow. We were supposed to go today but my dad had to run to Dearborn. I'm cramming all I can into this weekend as school begins next week. To top it off, it starts Wednesday, which also happens to be my birthday. Wow what a present. I received my class schedule in the mail and would you believe I have gym before lunch. I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to tell.

Late Start

Just as I planned it, I couldn't get Ryan out of bed this morning. We were going to leave at 8:00, but sleepy head didn't get ready until 9:30. To top it off, Ryan didn't have any bike shorts to wear and I had none that would fit him since he is like 6 inches shorter than me. So on our way to the park, we had to stop at the bike shop on Packard to buy his majesty some shorts. He's sitting here watching me type so I can't say anything insulting. We'll leave it at that. Anyway, we had a really nice day. We rode for about three hours with subtle breaks in between. I felt really good today. It's nice to be able to keep my hands on the drops without the feeling of a hot poker in my shoulder. I was impressed with how well Ryan was riding. I must say he looked good on my old bike. It fits him perfectly. No crashes, no run-ins with motorists, and I only got the "I can't believe what he's wearing look" once from somebody when we stopped to refill our water. Overall a very very productive day. We may go out again later in the week if my dad can take off a day.

Good Competition

My cousins and I held our first Guitar Hero Tournament last night. For a nine year old, Andy can hold his own against us older (and wiser) guys. I've never seen someone's fingers move that fast. He was blowing us away with GNR's Welcome to the Jungle and also Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast. Ryan brought his A game with Aerosmith's Same Old Song and Dance. Still nobody can touch me with Journey's Any Way You Want It which I played flawlessly. Andy was crowned the victor in the end.

Tomorrow is supposed to be really nice, so along with my dad (who has the day off), I am taking Ryan out biking. We're leaving really early and I know it's going to be a project getting him out of bed. He's supposedly really getting into cycling so that makes me ecstatic. I want to see him in action. He's been treating my old Cannondale well.

Settling In

I swear it's like I never left. Everything seems exactly as I left it, aside from my house being a few miles from where it originally was. I spent all of this week either hanging out with friends or with my family. This weekend should be interesting. My cousins Andy and Ryan are coming over tomorrow and staying for ONE WHOLE WEEK! I don't think I'll be able to handle that. These two have an infinite amount of sugar in their system and are constantly on the move. Now I'm the same way, until it's time for my head to hit the pillow. But these two just don't seem to lose energy. I can't complain, they are my blood and also my friends. If anyone sees me at school with gray hair you'll know why. We had plans to go to Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon but those plans fell through unfortunately. For my New York friends, Michigan's Adventure = Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.

Anxious

School starts in a couple of weeks and I'm actually looking forward to it. It'll be cool to be back with all of my old friends again. I should be getting my class schedule soon. I just hope gym class is not in the morning like it was for me this past school year. Terrible things tend to happen to me when I play sports before lunch.

Disappointed

After I went out on my bike yesterday, I realized that I'm very disappointed with how this cycling season turned out. I had the intention that I would gain a lot of experience and participate in quite a few races. Unfortunately that didn't happen. I don't need to revisit the reasons why. I just need to focus on next season and prepare for it.

Missing Stuff

I am starting to notice that I can't find certain things that I know I packed. This happened last year too. There aren't that many boxes left to unpack and I did a quick look-through to see if I can find my stuff. I'm sure it'll turn up.

Changes

I just realized that in just a few short weeks I will be turning 15. Not to mention entering my sophomore year at a new school. Neither of the two is a concern to me. I welcome the challenges that both bring.

I also just realized that my profile was aging quite poorly and that I am still making posts with just my first name. They've both been updated.

Time to Paint

My mom asked me today if I'd like to paint my room. Correction, she asked me if I'd like it a certain color. Since the last debacle involving paint, I have been banned from doing it myself (just like the washing machine incident). It's amazing, to this day I still have to hear about me hitting the ceiling and the window with the paint roller. Needless to say, I do want to change it from its current BRIGHT white. I wake up in the morning and I feel like I'm in a museum it's so bright white. I just might choose blue again.

Up and Running

My computer is now hooked up to the internet. Blogging from a cell phone is highly inconvenient and downright annoying. Here's what's happened my first week back:

1. While helping my dad move furniture, I cut my leg from a little below the knee down to the middle of my calf. Yeah, some things never change. There was a screw sticking out of a box...you can fill in the rest.

2. I was reunited with Briarwood Mall and of course California Pizza Kitchen. I ran into a kid that was in my math class last year. That was a little awkward because he insisted that he saw me in school this year. Hmmm..I highly doubt that.

3. I introduced the Blue to Michigan pavement. Went out for about an hour and came back.

4. Tonight is a family reunion of sorts. All of my relatives from Battle Creek should be here shortly. This includes my cousins Ryan and Andrew. I need to hide my Guitar Hero from them or thats all they'll do today.

I have so much to blog about I can't fit it all on one post. So I figure I'll break them up during the week.

13?!

Did I really only have 13 posts for the whole month of July? Man I am slacking. I should be hooked up by Saturday.

Miserable Posting

I've been having to go on the internet using my dad's phone since Comcast hasn't come yet to hook up the house. It's really inconvenient to post so this will be short. I've got plenty of pictures to post once I'm up and running. I've been out scouting roads preparing for long rides. The house is pretty cool. More to come..later!

Question of the Day

It hasn't taken long for me to get reacquainted with my hometown. I mostly spent yesterday unpacking, but I did manage to get out. My friends in New York probably won't know the answer but I bet my friends here in Michigan do. Where was the first place I went yesterday?

Final Day

Today's the last day. Everything is packed up and we're hitting the road tomorrow at 5:30 AM. I'm anxious to see what the new house looks like. I only saw it once and it was a quick drive by. I went riding one last time today with Chris, Dan, and Kyle. We got caught in an unexpected rain shower for about 20 minutes, but we had fun. I guess I'll be seeing everyone on the flips side of Lake Erie tomorrow. Peace!

I'm Still Here

It's really weird seeing my kitchen without tables and chairs and stuff. My dad and I are sticking around here until the bank and the people buying the house are done doing what their doing. I don't really understand mumbo jumbo bank language, but it has something to do with the buyer's bank not paying my dad's bank. Anyway, I was surprised to find the internet still working today. So I guess it was time to make a post. My dad's been taking me into the city this week to show me all of the jobs he did while we were living here. In case you didn't know, my dad is an engineer and owns his own construction business. It's really interesting to see how a building is actually constructed from the ground up.

I can't forget to post about the recent trades. I can't believe the Yankees picked up Pudge Rodriguez and got rid of a live arm like Kyle Farnsworth. They have a knack for picking up aging veterans. Not to mock Ivan Rodriguez, but the Yankees need starting pitching. Jose Molina was doing a really nice job in place of Jorge Posada. He may not have the bat Jorge has, but the guy can throw out Speedy Gonzalez. I was impressed by the pickup of Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates though. That was a smart move.

Hiatus

I will be on hiatus from my blog for a few days. Tomorrow we will no longer have internet access as it is being turned off. I will have access to my e-mail though through my dad's phone.

The party yesterday was awesome. We held two tournaments. A water volleyball tournament, in which my team lost miserably. And of course the grand finale guitar hero tournament. Dan just got the Aerosmith one the other day and the song selection is a little shaky but it's cool. I kept messing up Walk This Way. But in the end, I still reign as champion.

Getting Ready

I'm ready to go. A lot of my stuff has been shipped off to Ann Arbor. My bike fortunately is staying with me till the bitter end. I've been on it everyday except today due to torrential downpours. I have been extremely busy this week so far. I got my grades in the mail and I did extremely well on all my tests. I'm proud of myself considering the situation I was in this year. I've been hanging out with everyone under the sun as well. We held a Guitar Hero tournament at Chris' house yesterday and I took everyone to town. We are holding the final tournament on Saturday at the pool party. It's been just my dad and I for a week now so we've been eating out a lot. I took the above picture tonight on the way home from dinner. I'll have fond memories of this road since I must've paced it a thousand times. A good eye can spot the fairly new cyclist friendly lane over by the shoulder.

End of Week Update

This was really a great week. It of course started with my dad and I going to the homerun derby and the all-star game. Before anybody asks, we did stay until the AL won it in the bottom of the 15th. We got home at 3AM so Wednesday was mostly spent in bed for me. The pre-game ceremony Tuesday night was a baseball lover's dream come true. To be in close proximity of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, etc. was mind boggling. I have so many photos and videos of that night that I need a few days just to sort through them.

Thursday was my final session of physical therapy. I can honestly say I am 100% healed. No pain, no aches, no nothing. I am ready to return to normal activities.

I am almost completely finished packing my bedroom up. The only thing remaining is my computer, my television, and my Playstation 3. My mom has been in Michigan since Monday finalizing whatever it is they have to do with the house we're moving into. I'm a little sad about this. I know I've been really excited about moving back home, but I really am going to miss certain things about New York. My friend Dan is throwing me a goodbye pool party at his house next Saturday. He's taken the liberty of inviting all of my friends and the whole junior varsity baseball team too. That should be cool and sad at the same time.

Lack of Posts

This has been a long week and I haven't been very attentive to my blog. I have plenty of updating to address and I'll do that either tonight or tomorrow.

Two Down, One To Go

I had a lot of fun last night at the home run derby. The display Josh Hamilton of the Rangers put on was unforgettable. I don't think anyone expected him to continuously blast 500 foot homers. He hit the wall behind the bleachers which I don't think anyone's hit before. Tonight's All Star game is said to be a highlight of Yankee Stadium and not about the players. It's a shame this place is going, it really is special.

Leaving My Mark

I wasn't feeling 100% in the car on the way to Yankee Stadium yesterday. I felt like something was coming like a cold or a virus of some kind. Whatever it was came at full force in the bottom of the 3rd inning during the Future's Game. I seriously felt like I was going to collapse. I don't know how but I managed to make my way to the bathroom just before I lost control of my breakfast and lunch. Yeah that's right I threw up. Oddly enough, I felt fine for the rest of the day after that moment. Maybe I was just sick of watching Team USA lose to Team World. I did manage to snap some photos off yesterday. The celebrity softball game was fun to watch. There were a lot of Yankees like Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez playing in it. Tonight's the home run derby, I can't wait for that.

Surprise Revealed!

I am now a true believer in the saying "the impossible is possible." On the way to the All Star Fanfest at the Javits Center this morning, my dad handed me a FedEx package addressed to me and said "surprise!". OK, I'm thinking to myself, what the heck can this be? He's made such a big stink about it for a month now. As I ripped it open, I was shocked to find the above contents. Just imagine the look on my face.

I've Been Tagged

It's time for me to divulge information about myself that not many people may know. For those not familiar with it, when you're tagged you have to share six things about yourself that are not common knowledge. It's very popular on YouTube, but in this instance I've been tagged by James Anderson on his blog. So here it goes:

1. I have three nicknames: dganger, doppleganger, and yes Mr. Under Armour. The nickname doppleganger was coined by my uncle Mike when I was 10. He thinks I have a split personality because I can be very competitive when playing sports as I appear to be two different people.

2. I grew up in northern Ann Arbor and moved to Long Island last July. I am returning to Ann Arbor permanently within the next month. Watch out all you Michigan motorists!

3. I play three instruments: piano, guitar, and the trumpet (only in school).

4. I am ambidextrous. (comes in handy when playing baseball and the piano)

5. I have a strong love for Italian food. I have been known to eat pasta at 8 am.

6. I have been banned from using the washer and dryer. LOL!

I have to keep the chain going, so it's my turn to tag people. Here are my picks:

Danny Williams
Jason Silverman
Chris Murphy
Ryan Manfre
Kyle Gallagher
Jen Fowler

Utter Stupidity

I'm at it again doing absolutely moronic things. This time it involves laundry. Being home during the day now, I was told I have no excuse to not take care of some of my own affairs (laundry). So, I did what I was supposed to do with the washing machine, but I "misused" the dryer. I didn't realize the dryer was set to "ultra hot" and let my colors stay in there for over an hour. Needless to say some of my nicer shirts shrunk and I don't know if it's possible, but it appears two pairs of cycling shorts shrunk too. I think the word is spazz.

Busy Weekend

I haven't been on my computer much this weekend. We went to a huge party on Friday night. There had to be at least 75 people there. It was pretty cool, there were plenty of kids there my age. We had a nice game of water volleyball going in the pool. I felt like a salesman asking all of these kids if they like cycling. I need to stop doing that. After eating we were treated to a nice fireworks display and then we went back and ate some more.

Today we went to another party. This was a birthday party for a cousin on my mom's side of the family. Out of 6 kids there, I was the oldest. Their ages ranged from 5 to 11. I am exhausted from having all of them jumping on me. One of them kept calling me Greff. I found myself correcting this boy over and over and then I just gave up since I don't really sim him that much.

Oh by the way. I don't know if this is part of the big surprise or not, but I saw tickets on my kitchen table to the MLB All-Star fanfest that is being held in NYC the end of this coming week. That should be pretty cool since I hear there will be a lot of hall of famers there signing autographs. I'd really like to go the home run derby and the all-star game but those are impossible tickets to get. We're approaching mid-July so this surprise has to be coming soon.

Happy 4th of July!!

Updates

I haven't posted to my blog in a few days. There's nothing really for me to write about. I'm still patiently waiting for my grades to come in the mail. That's a good sign that they haven't come yet. It probably means that I passed all of my exams.

I went to the beach yesterday with a few friends from school and got really burnt. I look like a lobster. Being of Irish descent it doesn't take much to burn my skin.

I'm almost done with my physical therapy. I only go twice a week now and have built back a lot of strength in my arm.

I'm Back

I didn't realize how horrible my posts looked until I saw them now. That trip was actually quite boring. I basically followed my mom around town while my dad was doing his work thing. I now have to spend the next few weeks getting all my stuff together. I should be back permanently sometime in mid-July. I originally had an exact date but I think that fell by the wayside.

Sitting on the plane ride home, I diligently tried to extract info from my dad regarding this surprise in the middle of July. I hounded him so much about it he actually tuned me out with my own i-pod. I guess that means he's not budging.

hanging around

blogger doesnt let you do much with a cell phone but it does at least enable me to post to it. my mom and I are just hanging around. we went to the briarwood and then visited our old neighbors. my dad's still in lansing. tomorrow i'll just be hanging around doing nothing which stinks. none of my old friends are around this weekend except for anthony. I hung out with him last night.

posting from phone

i'm postting from my dad's phone. i'm sitting in the plane waiting to takeoff. the flight is delayed. i'm bored.

Correction

I posted false info below. I will be back Friday not tomorrow. I thought tomorrow was Friday. And we wil not be accompanying my dad to Lansing. My mom and I will be staying in Ann Arbor.

Pleasant Surprise

I'll be in Michigan starting tomorrow night through Monday morning. My dad has to inspect a job site somewhere in Lansing so my mom and I are coming along. I'd really like to bring my bike with me but that's not gonna happen. I checked the forecast for this weekend and it looks like it might rain the whole time I'm there. Go figure.

Internet Problems

I haven't had internet access all day and it's still running like garbage. Our IP said that something fried the cable modem. Hmmmmm. It wasn't me I swear.

I went out riding for about two and a half hours today. I got home just in time as it started to pour as I was heading down the hill leading to my house. I'm really feeling well. It's been awhile.

GIGANTIC NEWS!

The people that were here last weekend to look at the house apparently were quite impressed with it...aside from my messy room. They were so impressed they made an offer that my parents accepted. The house is sold! I have been warned that it may be a fast move so I was basically told to get my things in order.

That's not the only gigantic news. I have an exact date for my return. July 18th. I believe it's a Friday. I have already begun to make plans for that weekend.

Freedom

School is done. I get a nice break until September. I did really well on all my tests:

Earth Science - 91

History - 87

English - 94

Math - 86

For doing so well in school this year, considering the circumstances, my Dad said he has something planned for the middle of July for me. I can't imagine what it can be but I'm assuming it's something in Michigan. I may need to break out those stellar investigation skills of mine.

Sigh of Relief

That's it! No more tests! I let out this huge exhale at the conclusion of today's math final. Tomorrow we get our test results for all of them. I really feel like I did really well on all of them. I'm just glad it's over.

My Brain Is Fried!

Earth Science, English, and History are all finished. Now comes the biggie. Math! This is the final I've been dreading. I shouldn't be worried because I've done pretty well this year in math, but it's been lingering in my head. I'm only going to be in school from 9:30 to 1:00 tomorrow and then for two hours on Friday and that's it! I want my results so badly it's killing me.

1 Down - 3 To Go

I took my first final today. 3 hours was the time limit to complete it. My confidence from yesterday leaked over into today and I feel like I did well. Gotta hit the books for tomorrow's Earth Science test.

My brain this morning was on Chien Ming Wang's foot injury from yesterday. The Yankees are in deep trouble with the leagues most winningest pitcher since 2006 out for six weeks.

Question

A question was asked today at dinner by a relative who will remain nameless.

The question was: Will Jeff return to racing this year or will he wait until next cycling season and start from scratch.

The answer is: I don't know. I have been on an accelerated healing schedule and have been out on my bike three times since the surgery. All three times I have felt fantastic, aside from some pedal stroke issues. I guess my return to racing is dependant on where I will be living in the next couple of months. Obviously next year I will be racing in Michigan, but I would like to gain some more experience this year. A good question, one that I have asked myself for a month now.

The Final Week

Well it's finally here. The final week of school and a week of brutal test-taking. I studied my rear end off and feel really good about myself. I let off some steam yesterday with Dan, Chris, Chris' friend Kyle, and this nice kid Jacob. We went to Kyle's house where he has a very nice pool and held a water volleyball tournament. I was relegated to the deeper side of the net due to my height advantage. That still didn't keep me from spiking balls over the net. Here's a big surprise, Dan hurt someone with the ball. He smacked Jacob in the face with it. It's amazing, someone is always inflicted with bodily harm when Dan is involved in a sport. I guess we're alike in some respect. I always end up taking the brunt of jokes, and he's always the one that initates them. Jacob's OK, he just had a slight headache for an hour or so.

Happy Father's Day

I'm Ready..But Slightly Depressed

I did really well on my practice exams. I got a 92 on the Earth Science and an 89 on the math. These grades helped me get through the day as this was the last full day of school. I will not be returning. The thought of it makes me upset. It's not as bad as last year when I had to say goodbye to everyone in Michigan. But nonetheless it was upsetting. I have made some good friends here and hopefully I will keep those friendships for a long time. Man go grab a tissue, I'm acting weird.

Footnotes

Two things:

1) I've had two people tell me that they've been sending e-mails to dganger10@gmail.com. That is incorrect. My correct e-mail is dganger10@yahoo.com. I don't know where people are finding the gmail one.

2) Tired of hearing my friends asking me when I had brown hair and a ponytail, I have edited the cyclist at the top of the page to reflect blonde hair minus the ponytail. I somehow shoehorned a picture of my bike in there too. Now the torment can cease.

Practice Exams

Today I took two practice exams meant to prepare me for Monday. I get the results of them tomorrow. I feel I did well on them. The math one naturally gave me the biggest trouble.

Time For a Change

I'm getting tired of the way my blog looks again. It still looks too generic. I need to add more pictures or something. I'm also trying to phase out my nickname as not many people call me doppleganger anymore. Being that it's not a common word in people's vocabulary, many don't know what it means anyway.

Getting Ready For Exams

I've spent my entire downtime studying for next weeks finals. There's no room for error on my part because I won't be here anymore to take the test over if I don't do well.

Finals

Final Exams start next Monday. I have already started cramming for them. Two of my teachers are giving practice exams to prepare us for what lurks next week. I can't wait till school is over. I have so much I want to do. Most of the things involve me being back in Michigan so I'm at the mercy of my dad's job. Speaking of which, it would appear my return is slated for early July. That gives me time to get reacquainted and acquainted with friends old and new. Gotta run.

Sweltering Heat

Days like today remind me of winter in that the temperature outside is so unbearable that you're stuck indoors. It seriously felt like 120 degrees outside. As soon as you walk outside you can literally feel the water in your body evaporate.

Saturday Summary

The ride was an interesting one yesterday. We found this hill that has two sets of sharp inclines and vary sharp banks. We all came out of the final turn just fine except one person. Sorry Dan. He has now officially experienced what all cyclists can face. I must say he crashed very gracefully. LOL. Chris and Kyle were in the front while I stayed in the back behind Dan. I saw he was not keeping his body in line with the center of gravity and he just spilled over to the right as he exited the turn. It happened in slow motion. Very similar to when I fell in gym class. I can laugh about it now. He's fine, he just scraped up his arm pretty nicely and ripped his shirt. As for myself, I am starting to feel much stronger. I still have a long way to go though.

We capped off the day by going to see Prince Caspian. Yes, we actually all agreed on it. It was good, but I liked the first movie better. Hollywood tends to deviate from the original books too much.

Going Out For More

Today and tomorrow are going to be close to 90. Chris, Dan, and Kyle are coming over at 11 for a late breakfast and then we're going out riding. Dan has slowly started to enjoy cycling and has requested to come with us. He may eventually want to try out racing too. We will cap off the day with a movie tonight. The only thing really out in the theaters to see is Prince Caspian. I'm not sure if we'll all agree on that so we may just rent a movie.

Back in the Saddle

I went for my first ride today in over 3 weeks. It felt good to be out on the pavement again. I didn't want to push myself too far so I only rode for about 30 minutes. Afraid that something bad might happen, I brought my friend Chris with me. I was just being over-protective of myself and nothing bad happened.

Very Very Good News

I started physical therapy yesterday and it was the first time in over two weeks I lifted my arm. Imagine trying to lift your arm with 500 lbs of weight holding it down. That's how it felt. It didn't hurt though. I spent an hour and 1/2 doing these shoulder exercises that are meant to build up strength and help heal. I no longer have to wear the sling or any other annoying device that locks my arm against my body.

Here's the good news. I went to the doctor today for a checkup and he was impresed by how much flexibility I have. He told me that I can start riding my bike again when I feel stronger in the shoulder. Yup, I just did backflips on the front lawn. I feel strong I feel strong. The only thing I can't do is lift heavy objects or raise my arm above my head. Unfortunately, to my dismay, it was pouring here today so I couldn't go out and ride. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what I'll be doing after school tomorrow.

Finals

Are you kidding?! Finals are coming up in two weeks? I have to take a standardized New York State test in three subjects: Math, Earth Science, and History. I believe it's called the Regents exams. Not too sure about that though. Even though it's given by NYS, if you fail you don't pass. This is why I strongly dislike standardized tests. I better hi the books now and make sure I do well. Anyway, the school year officialy ends for me on June 20. I'm psyched.

1-2

Well our team won it's first game today bringing our record to 1-2. I sat on the bench in regular clothes today being that it would be difficult to change into my uniform. We got a strong outing from Justin Miller today who pitched the whole game. He struck out 5 and only walked one batter. If I forget to mention Dan's homerun then I'll be beheaded. He hit a two-run shot in the 4th to give us the lead for good. The final score was 6-2.

Missed Calls

While I was in Michigan, two of the coaches called to see how I was doing. That was nice of them. One of them was Dee (I think that's how she spells it). She's the one who gives those classes I've gone to. I called her back to thank her for calling and to see how everyone is doing. She's giving another class next week on advanced fundamentals so I really want to go.

Home Again

We had a really bumpy ride coming home today. There were some thunderstorms around the New York area that made for a pretty interesting descent. I don't mind some turbulence, I actually look forward to some. I know I'm weird. My mother on the other hand canno handle it. Let's just say my wrist still has finger marks branded into it from her clutching me so tightly. I need to remind myself to bring one of those stress things you squeeze so she doesn't cut the circulation off to my hand next time. We had to circle the airport a few times because of the delays from the weather so there was plenty of wrist clenching going on.

Before we left for the airport, my parents showed me the house they were looking at on Saturday. It was nice, not to mention in the same school zone that I used to be in. It was a nice trip. I felt bad for my friends though. I was like a third wheel not being able to do any physical activities. Oh well, the next time I see them I'll probably be back permanently and in 100% physical shape. I did see a lot of riders out on the roads which brought a smile to my face.

Indiana Jones

We decided on seeing Kingdom of the Crystal Skull instead of Narnia. The movie was pretty good. I was expecting a lot of CGI, but was pleasantly surprised that they kept it to a minimum. It felt a lot like the other three movies that way. Harrison Ford can still bring it but is starting to show his age. All in all it was an enjoyable film so go see it if you haven't already.

Comic Relief

I'm telling you trouble follows me wherever I go. I was dropped off at my friend Jason's house this morning and right away something stupid has to happen. I go and sit on the couch in their living room and their dog, Sammy, jumps up and sits next to me. Sammy always liked me and apparently he remembers me. Needless to say something caught his attention...the string hanging from my sling. And of course he has to go and yank it with his mouth. I can't catch a break.

We're going to see Indiana Jones or Prince Caspian tonight. Not sure which one we're in the mood for. Tomorrow is supposed to be lousy here so we're probably going to the mall.

New Home?

I think my parents found a house. I didn't see it I was staying at the hotel, but from what I hear it's not far from my old house.

Getting Ready

I had my bandages removed today and I can somewhat move my arm now. I still have to keep my arm in a sling for another couple of weeks. When I come back I have to start a minor rehab program. Oh boy that sounds like fun. I'm not sure if I'll get the chance to post tomorrow and that means I probably won't be on my blog until Sunday or Monday. For those who want to annoy me, you can still e-mail me. I'll be checking that with my dad's phone. Have a nice Memorial Day weekend everyone.

Still Leaving Friday Night

My dad was thinking I shouldn't go with them this weekend to Michigan. I protested and somehow convinced him to take me with them. I have no more pain and feel much much better than I did on Thursday and Friday. So therefore I'm going. I might be a bit bored on Saturday and Sunday while they're out looking at houses so I'll have to bring some form of entertainment. I'll be staying with my friend Jason when his family gets back from Cincinnati Sunday night. I miss Michigan. New York is great but there's just something missing here and I can't put my finger on it.

1 Month?

I just realized that school is over in a month. Man I can't believe how fast it went by.

Kicked Out

I have not been able to access my blog since yesterday afternoon. For some reason it wouldn't let me log in. Not that I have anything to write about anyway.

My Own Personal Assistant

I went to the school nurse first thing this morning because she has to know when you have a physical "inability". I was given the opportunity to have someone help me carry my books and stuff to each of my classes. Hahaha. The person I select gets a special pass allowing them to be late to their class. For antagonization purposes I picked Dan for most of the day. However, this nice girl Jen in my Earth Science class volunteered to help for two periods. Thanks Jen! I tried to push the envelope a little by making Dan fetch me lunch but that didn't play out too well and I was basically told to get it myself. LOL!

Expanding My Musical Horizons

I've been looking to broaden my musical tastes. Being that I really dislike today's popular "music", I'm interested in discovering something new (or old). My dad is the one who got me into classic rock and metal, however I need some more rock to listen to. Any suggestions?

Fast Food

I am not usually one to eat fast food. My mom brought me home Wendy's today. I haven't had this in a long time and I can see why. You feel like utter garbage after you eat it. It's no wonder heart disease is the #1 killer in this country. Every once and a while I'm good for a serious post.

Bored

My new best friend is the Discovery Channel. They had a program on for the cycling junkie. They toured through several different bicycle manufacturers and showed their different product lineups. Can you guess which one they spent the most time on? Thanks Lance. Trek is very secretive and won't let anyone deep into their catacombs. Talk about paranoid. That held me over for an hour, but I'm seriously bored. Help!

Neverending Sleep

I have never slept so much in my entire life. I literally missed half of Thursday and pretty much all of Friday. I have been taking some kind of medicine to nullify the slight pain I have and it's been making me very groggy. Surgery went well. It was actually quite quick and I was home before I knew it. The doctor told my mom that the tear was not too bad and that it will heal quite fast with the proper rehab. I have completely no use of my right arm. It's locked in place by several thousands of bandages and a splint. The worst part about this is that I have to sleep in an inclined position so that my arm is resting on lots of pillows. Having to type and use the mouse with my left hand is taking forever.

Wish Me Luck

Today's the day! I'm actually looking forward to it now. In the long run I'll be happy I did it.

Coming Home

I'll be back in Ann Arbor for Memorial Day weekend. I have off from school that Monday and Tuesday so I'm looking forward to it. I'm starting to get jittery about tomorrow, it's bothering me.

Better than Expected

I went for a pre-surgery exam today after school. Basically, it was just a 30 minute lecture from my doctor explaining the procedure and the rehablitation aspects. I have to sit up for this stupid surgery. But I won't necessarily have to be awake. Good put me to sleep, I don't want to see or feel anything. I will be walking around with a sling and bandages for about a month. My doctor is promising me that I'll be fully healed before the end of the summer so that makes me a little happier. I'm gonna be bored, so I'm apologizing ahead of time if my blog gets really really boring (if it hasn't already).

First Game...and an AB!

Yesterday was the first game of the season for my high school baseball team, the T-Birds. I, of course, did not pitch. I was mostly an observer but was in uniform and on the bench with my teammates. And yes, I was decked out in full Under Armour gear again. We kind of got slapped around pretty badly the first two innings. I guess you kinda get a feel for what's gonna happen when the other team scores 4 in the first inning. Our pitcher, Justin Miller, threw 112 pitches and was gone by the 4th inning. My coach wanted to get me in the game knowing I may not be able to play the rest of the year, so I pinch hit for Justin who was completely spent.

Here's the situation: Man on first, 1 out, we're down by 5, and I'm batting lefty to face the right-handed pitcher. I went to the plate thinking I may not get another chance to swing the bat this year. That mentality resulted in me swinging at the first pitch which I never do. Great, now I'm behind 0-1. I take the next pitch and he threw a strike at my knees. 0-2 even better. The next two pitches he throws me are breaking balls of some kind and they both end up in the dirt. 2-2. I'm now ready for a fastball up, which he kindly throws me, and I rip it....foul. He then tries to outsmart me and throws another one of those breaking balls towards my ankles, sorry, I'm not buying that. 3-2. He then throws me two straight fastballs right over the plate, and I foul them both off. What's next, hmmmmm, maybe another breaker. Nope, it's a fastball and it was way too high. Hey I drew a walk. We unfortunately couldn't get a rally going and the inning ended on a pop up to the pitcher and a ground out. We lost 9-4. All in all I am happy with having no official at-bat and an on-base percentage of 1.000.

Surgery

I'm scheduled to go for a pre-surgery exam on Monday. I don't know what that means but I'm a little nervous about the surgery itself. These sort of things don't usually bother me but for some reason this has been on my mind. I have been feeling pretty good though so maybe that's an indication it will heal fast. I can only hope.

Allergy Season

I've been miserable the past two days with the pollen flying around everywhere. Nothing but sneezing and sinus congestion. We finally had some nice weather here yesterday but once again the rain came back. That seems to be the forecast for the next few days as well. I want to be outside not jailed inside.

The Aftermath

It was sunny and warm today so naturally I wore short sleeves to school. I don't know how many times someone asked me why my arm was black and blue. It's funny having to describe to non-cyclists what rollers are. They just can't seem to get a mental image in their head. Man I really need to get some sun!

Battle Scars (Hardly a Battle)

Ok I did something really stupid today. A few weeks ago my dad picked me up a set of rollers. They've just been sitting around and I've only attempted them a couple of times. Well today after school I thought it would be a good time to get the hang of them. So I proceeded to set them up in the middle of my doorway for comfort purposes. I jump onto my bike and it pretty much took me a couple of attempts to get used to not riding on pavement. OK not bad so far. Well, the house phone rings and it was for me so my mom shouted my name and I turned my head (a natural response to someone calling your name from behind.) I learned the hard way to not lose focus because WHAM! I keeled over and bashed my arm against the door frame to prevent me from falling all the way down to the floor. I now have the brightest shade of purple and a hint of yellow from my wrist down to my elbow. Sad considering I wasn't even moving. I'm starting to collect a list of Jeff's stupid blunders. There was one good thing that came out of this, a pain free shoulder workout!

Will It Ever Stop?

I have not seen the sun since last weekend. I'm not a fan of spending my weekends indoors.

Some more people were over this morning looking at the house. I guess it's a good thing that we have had a steady amount of people coming. My parents are really worried they won't be able to sell the house. I'm assuming it's because of the really poor economy. Oh great I sound like my history teacher.

Another Rainy Day in New York City

Yeah it rained again today. We had a nice team meeting / luncheon. There must've been like 50 or 60 people. A lot of them showed up to eat the buffet packed with french toast and scrambled eggs. We were allowed to bring a guest so naturally I brought my partner in crime Dan. We ate like no tomorrow clearing a whole tray of french toast. It was nice, they apparently do this a few times during the year to get everyone together. My dad tried surprising us by taking us to Yankee Stadium. However, we arrived at 1:00 and we couldn't get three seats together, It's a shame because I would've liked watching Mike Mussina dismantle the Mariners offense.

Sweep

It appears I'm getting out of New York at the right time. The Tigers are catching fire.

Updates

Once again I am running low on things to blog about. I'm pretty sure no one wants to hear me ramble on about nothing. But here's the updates:

* There is a team meeting I am attending on Saturday. If it does include riding then I will try to participate in that. The weather has been kind of crummy here so I really haven't spent much time outdoors. I have been utilizing my trainer and attempting the rollers.

* Some more people are coming over to look at our house this weekend. I did find out that we may move sooner because my parents are worried about selling the house. If they get an offer we're outta here. This is a plus and a negative.

* The Yankees look horrible. I was seriously annoyed that Gary Sheffield hit a homer. I strongly dislike him.

Tigers vs. Yankees

This should be fun to watch. Former Yankee and geriatric lefty Kenny Rogers vs. a struggling 21 year old Phil Hughes. Hmmm...Phil Hughes wasn't even born when Kenny Rogers started his career. I'm betting on a 7 hour game with 52 runs scored.

Visitors

I came home today from school and found strangers in my house. That is a very strange feeling. Not only were they roaming the house like wild buffalo, their son was in my room! Can I help you? He was commenting on my PlayStation 3 and my signed baseballs. I don't have gold bullion in my room but there is some valuable memorabilia. AND MY BIKE!!! He must not like cycling because he didn't even mention the fact that my bike was sitting in front of my closet. The best part is that my parents weren't even home. Apparently the real estate agent has a key and was showing this couple and their 11 year old son the grand tour. Thankfully my clothes were put away.

Bored

It's Raining!

New Nickname

Practice actually went well today. I told my coach about my arm and he was cool with it. I took batting practice and felt fine. It looks as if I will be spliting time at first base with Dan. Ha ha! We got fitted for our uniforms and I made sure to request #24.

I was given a new nickname by my teammates. I didn't realize I was decked out in full Under Armour gear today. Socks, cleets, and base layer. It didn't take long for everyone to notice and they started calling me Mr. Under Armour. Great! Just what I need.

House Guests

There are people coming tomorrow afternoon to look at our house. I guess I should pick up my dirty laundry huh?!

Questionable Friday

Two things are happening tomorrow:

1: My third speech for English class is to be presented by yours truly. I'm dreading this topic (Global Warming). Someone's bound to fall asleep on me I know it.

2: My first day of practice for baseball. Am I immediately placed on the disabled list? Is there a DL in high school baseball? The bad thing is I didn't even tell my coach I'm getting my shoulder surgically repaired. I can probably play 1st base and bat, but pitching and any fielding position requiring massive throwing is not an option. Too bad there is no DH in high school baseball. The team will be carrying two other pitchers besides myself. Reality is starting to settle in and I'm not liking it.

Nothing New

I really don't have anything to blog about. I've been diligently working on my next speech which is due Friday. I went out riding after school with two others for about an hour. Really just a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood, nothing intense. I got what I like to call the "pedestrian staredown" when I was riding. Basically it's the "look what he's wearing" look. Give me a break! While I was on the bus this morning I saw two guys duking it out on a local road. I think they may have been East End riders because I recognized the colors.

So So Week

Well I received a second opinion on my shoulder and I pretty much have no choice but to accept surgery as my only alternative. I was told again I have a pretty bad tear. The good thing about surgery is that recovery time is not as bad as I originally was told. So I can pretty much be swinging my arm within a month. That means the cycling season and playing on my school's baseball team in not totally lost. Awesome!

I went to the introduction to cycling class Wednesday night in the city. Since my bike did not need to accompany me, we took the train and transferred to the subway. I am now complete in experiencing all of New York's facets. I don't know how all those commuters don't get lost in that maze of subway trains. Anyhow, the class was pretty informative for someone just starting out and I got a lot out of it. The instructor/coach was really nice and I look forward to working with her. I did get to meet another junior named Ian who was pretty cool.

"Where Have You Been?"

This seems to be the most commonly asked question I've heard lately. I have received two phone calls and several emails regarding my absence. I'm still here. I've been really busy this week and haven't had much of a chance to blog. I had no idea that there were so many people who read my blog. I'm going out to dinner with my friend Dan and his parents so I'll be sure to write later what happened this week. Some good some bad.

Late Posting

I've been blogging late the last few days. Too much schoolwork. The weather has been awesome lately, and it's only getting better. Thursday is supposed to be in the 70's. I've got a ride tomorrow night to go to the coaching session at 7:30. I'm looking forward to that. I'm getting a second opinion on my shoulder this Friday. I'm going insane not being able to ride for long periods of time. Words really can't explain how lousy I'm feeling by missing all of these races. To top my misery off, baseball starts in two weeks and I probably won't be able to play. But on a positive note, my dad came back today from two days of meetings in Detroit. An offer was made and now my parents have to think about it. Well....maybe not as my mom was on the phone with a realtor to start getting the house ready for a sale. :)

Something Funny

What is it with girls and bees? A bee flew into my Earth Science class today and the entire female population got up and started screaming. One girl even left the room. I've noticed this on more than one occasion and don't understand what the big deal is. It's a bee, leave it alone and it will leave you alone. I need to start bringing a camcorder to class.

Too Much Schoolwork

I've been brainstorming topics to choose for my speech on Friday and can't seem to come up with anything. Somebody mentioned global warming but I really don't want to do it on that. Time for more brainstorming. From the time I got home today up until dinner (steak and mashed potatoes in case you were wondering), I was doing homework. I hate spending my free time doing homework.

2-10?!

My dad is regretting paying for Fox Sports Net. We watched the so-called "Tigers" get completely obliterated this afternoon. Never mind horrendous pitching, this team's lineup should match that of the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox. They should change their name to the Detroit Kittens.

More Stupidity

My cousin keeps sending me links for stupid youtube videos. This one actually caught me when I was in a stupid mood and I was pretty much laughing at anything.

Check This Out!

Make sure you look really close!

Progressing Nicely

Things are looking pretty good for my dad. He's going back to Detroit on Monday for more meetings. It is really looking like he's going to take the job. On a side note, I got a haircut this morning and the barber completely messed up my hair. I look like I'm wearing a hairpiece. Come on now, how hard is it to use a buzzer?!

Good Riding

It was 72 today and man was I itching to go for a ride when I was in school today. When I came home, I didn't even hit the john. I quickly changed and myself and Chris went out riding. I wanted to see how long I could ride before the pain of my shoulder set in. Today was pretty good, probably because I've been laying off the arm. I am somewhat ambidextrous for those who don't know, so I've been doing everything with my left arm. We had a little problem on one of the side streets not far from my house. Apparently the road crew was repairing potholes and left behind some extra "filler" for us to ride through. Not exactly the smoothest of surfaces to be riding on but I got a kick out of the slalom effect we were putting to use. All in all I felt ok and believe if I continue to take it easy I won't have to opt for surgery just yet. I just downed a whole row of tagalongs (girl scout cookies) so I'm feeling kind of lousy but man they're good!

Coaching Session

There's a coaching class next Wednesday night I'm thinking about going to. It's at 7:30 so hopefully someone wil be able to take me. Since I can't ride for long periods of time, I'll at least give the brain a workout from the coaches. It's going to be 70 tomorrow and I pretty much don't care if my arm falls off, I'm riding tomorrow.

XP or Vista?

My "new" computer currently has Windows XP as the operating system. My dad's is running Vista. I like the interface a little better on Vista but have heard people complaining that Vista has given them problems. What is everyone using and which do you think is better?

Public Speaking Part III

It's time for another speech. I have completely no idea what to do it on this time. I've talked about cycling and I've discussed steroids in sports. I'm under the impression my class is tired of hearing about sports. Time to brainstorm.

0-6?

Do I need to comment on this? So much for those off-season acquisitions!

A Good Trip

I had fun this weekend but it went by too fast. I caught up with a bunch of my old friends and some of my family too. There's nothing like a family gathering at California Pizza Kitchen. This is like the only place everybody enjoys. My dad's business meetings went really well and he's very optimistic this will turn into something big for him/us. While I was hanging out at a friends house my parents went looking at houses. They found a couple of places that caught their interest, but I don't think any that they really really liked. They are definitely looking to move back to Ann Arbor though which would be awesome. It looks like June/July is when we'll make the move. Deja vu. I'm a little torn though, I must admit, I will miss some of the friends I've made here in New York. It's nice to finally be able to post on my blog whenever I want.

I'm Still Alive!

I have internet now! I will not be going to school tomorrow as all three of us have a 9:50 AM flight tomorrow. I will be back Sunday night sometime so I most likely won't be posting on my blog for the next few days. The fact that my mom is going means I don't have to hang around my dad when he's doing his BRT's (business related things). This also means I can do more things this weekend. Hopefully the weather will be nice in Ann Arbor. I wish I could bring my bike, but we're only taking carry-ons. Have a nice weekend everyone!

Quick Post

I should have an internet connection by Friday. My dad was hogging the machine all day. Nothing really new to post about. Yankee game on in an hour. Gotta run!

Things on my Mind

1) Obviously the biggest. I think I'm leaving this Friday night to spend the weekend in Michigan. It's hard to believe it's been three months since I visited last. There's a lot I want to do when I'm there, but don't think time or my dad will allow it. If my mother was going that would be different.

2) My mom spoke to the doctor this afternoon who is now giving me the option to have surgery on my shoulder. I'm not too excited about this idea as it would most definitely mean sacrificing much of my cycling season and eliminating my baseball season altogether. I really want to do both but it's evident I cannot. Mass confusion here. I need to think this one through.

3) PLAY BALL! Opening Day is here and the Yankees did not play today. Rain has forced them to begin the final season at Yankee Stadium tomorrow. I implore all you out there to visit this historic ballpark as it will be obliterated. I'm not kidding when I say you get chills walking in there. Sounds cheesy I know, but to think Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played there, it's mind boggling. Tigers lost to the stupid Royals. Don't even want to talk about that.

Picture This!

It would help if I correctly attached a picture. I can't decide whether to keep the monitor on top or beside the computer. This think looks really industrial and also looks like it would belong in an entertainment center. I don't have an internet connection yet, but at least I can do my school work without bothering my dad to get off the computer. (The observant one can see Jeff's stellar painting skills at play)

New Computer

I can't quite figure out where to put the monitor.

Bailing Out

I'm angry at myself and the doppleganger effect was in full swing today. In an effort to gain more experience, I decided to go ahead and race with the team despite not being at full physical capacity. I barely made two laps around Park Drive and couldn't get off the saddle once! Here's an analogy. The pain in my shoulder felt like getting a cavity filled without novacaine. I just couldn't keep my arm extended. My coach is aware of my issue and was proud I made the effort to ride. In my book this is failure. My parents and my coach both think I'm being too hard on myself...I admit I can be...but this is unacceptable. I'm supposed to race next weekend too but I may be out of town. Sorry I needed to vent.

Updates

I know I haven't been blogging. I've had a fun week off from school. Dan, Chris, and Craig have spent the last few days rotating who's house we go to. The circle was complete today as they came back to my house. It was raining today so we played Playstation 3 all day and ate garbage. This is the first chance I've had to post on my blog as I am preparing for the arrival of...you guessed it...my very own computer. I should have it tonight when my dad comes home.

I have to be in Central Park at 6 tomorrow morning for the team race. My involvement in the race will depend on the status of my once again ailing shoulder. Can you just feel the frustration mounting in me? My bike will be accompanying me none the less.

Either next weekend or the following weekend I have BIG PLANS!!! I will be accompanying my dad to Michigan! He has to meet with some people from General Motors to discuss business related things. And we will quite possibly start looking for a place to move to. Woohoo! I'll keep adding details as they become available.

One final thing. I want to wish all my cycling readers the best of luck for the new season. I hope you achieve all your goals and beyond!!!

MRI Part II

My orthopedist wanted me to come in today after yesterday's ordeal. Today I felt fine. No pain or stinging of any kind. He took another MRI and assured me everything was fine. I'm at 95%. The 5% is what I felt yesterday. Jason can attest to the fact (swimming pool incident) that pain in no way shape or form unless it's excrutiating bothers me, but yesterday's pain was of the eye-tearing kind. The doc said to not keep my arm in any one position for too long. Boy did I learn that the hard way. So after my examination I went out riding in balmy 60 degree weather. Hmmm, I smell Spring.

Agonizing Pain

It was nice out again today. I went out by myself for a quick ride. About an hour or so. On the way back home I began to feel discomfort in my shoulder. By the time I got home, it was unbearable. I think keeping my arms extended for the duration of the bike ride might have re-aggrevated something in there. I'm hoping and praying I did no damage.

This Gets Me Pumped

I'm finally getting the chance to add videos to you-tube and came across this gem. As an 8 year old boy, this was the first time I ever went to a Yankee game in Yankee Stadium. This is the reason why I'm a baseball freak and always request #24 in whatever sport I play.

Interesting Day Planned / Big News

It is going to be 50 degrees today. Chris, Dan (believe it or not), and Chris' friend Craig, are coming over to raid my refrigerator and then we're going out riding. I coaxed Dan into coming with us, hopefully he can keep pace. Lol. Chris has our route all mapped out, it sounds promising. Nice hills mixed in with some flat terrain and some twists thrown in.

In regards to me going to Michigan, that is almost a certainty. My dad has been given the opportunity to expand his business back in Detroit (I think it's Detroit). The reason why we left Michigan is because business slowed down for him. Now it appears to be on the rebound in his line of work. He hasn't agreed to it yet, but it appears I might come back for good if he says yes. If that's the case, picture me doing cartwheels (if that scares you, just draw a big happy face and that's me). Even if he says no, I'm still going back for a couple of months over the summer. That kind of ruins my racing schedule, but I can live with that.

Vacation

Why am I awake at 8:20 when I'm on vacation from school?

Jeff Will Return

Yes you heard it correctly. Jeff is returning to Michigan. More details to follow.

New Shoes

I am now officialy suffering from the same affliction as my father. LLBFD. For those not familiar with it, that stands for Long Legged Big Feet Disease. I can't believe I need a size 13 shoe for cycling. I don't even wear sneakers or baseball cleats that size. That might change too.

New Computer?

One of my dad's co-workers is replacing his computer with a new one. I have made several inquiries as to where his old one is going. Since I only have a few chances during the day to use this one, I've asked my dad to please see if we can take his old one. It's in the works.

It's a tad on the cold side today but Chris and one of his friends are coming over and we're going out riding. Chris wants to ride to a bike shop that's not too far from here. I'm not a fan of walking with bike shoes on. It looks like I'm tap dancing. I could really use some new shoes. I'm slowly outgrowing the ones I have now.

Tryouts

Today was the last set of tryouts for baseball. It was also the day we find out if we made the team. The weather was a bit more bearable this time around. I was competing against two others for the starting pitchers spot. One of the guys I've kind of become friendly with because he's in my Earth Science class. He did well today and that made me nervous. The other guy I don't know and he did ok. In addition to pitching, I had to show the coach how I hit and field too. The pitching went well, no scuds into the dirt this time. The hitting and fielding left a little to be desired. Pop ups are no problem, line drives are. And I booted a fair share of them. My shoulder seems to be fully healed as I didn't have any discomfort or stinging at all. After about 2.5 hours on the field we went into the gym and sat in the bleachers to wait to hear our names called...in alphabetical order. I hated this. I was so nervous waiting until he got to the K's. Sure enough, he called my name. Yeah baby! Dibs on #24. I felt so bad for Dan. At least my last name is in the middle of the alphabet, his is the dead last. LOL! But he made the team too. And not by nailing anyone in the chest (sorry Dan, I'll never let you live that down). About twelve kids got cut and I truly felt bad for them. I have a heart in my chest unlike some of the other kids. I will be pitching and Dan will be playing 1st base. Bring on the first team!

Duh!

Guess who fell off his bike today. Well actually kinda fell over. I was stopped at the end of my street and I for some reason couldn't disengage my cleat from the pedal. I must've looked like a domino falling over.

Updates

Sorry everyone for not posting anything. I'm not a fan of cramming schoolwork in before a vacation but that's the case now. I have two reports I have to have finished by Friday not to mention baseball tryouts part II on Friday as well. Check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chFfW_ykzOo. You'll see what I'm talking about with the recreation lane. The video this guy has up doesn't show it too well but there's a part of the road blocked off so runners, cyclists, etc.. don't fly out into the middle of the race. I saw two instances where a non-racing cyclists went out in the middle of the road. Probably this weekend I'll get the chance to post all of my photos and videos. I have so many things I want to post ad talk about but don't have the time right now. Peace!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Think Green. I'm putting together a slideshow from yesterday. I'm not going to bore everyone with paragraphs of descriptions, I'll let pictures do the talking. A lot of them I've had to delete because someone (he'll remain nameless) didn't put the camera in the correct mode. My dad did snag some good video footage though, one of me whizzing by. I had no time today to breathe because this is the final week of school before Easter vacation. So therefore my teachers are assigning TONS of work for us to cram in.

And So It Begins...

Good Riding

I spent all day in the city today working with my coach. We went over so many fundamentals and techniques that my head is spinning. I had fun, as did the others that were there. I got to ride for a while too to practice what he was preaching. There was a college race in action on the west side of Manahattan this morning, I missed it. So much for the weatherman's prediction of rain as it was beautiful outside. However, that is not the case with tomorrow. Snow and rain are "supposedly" ruining my chances of racing tomorrow. I'm not happy about this. On the way home today my dad was nice enough to pick me up some rollers. I'll be putting those to good use.

An Apology of Sorts

I've been kind of slacking in the photo and video posting. For that I apologize. I don't spend as much time on the computer as I used to and between school and getting ready for races and getting ready for baseball, my free time has diminished. Obviously this blog is mostly about cycling, with some baseball thrown in, but it has been mostly jabber on my part. I promise to post videos/photos of my races. Thanks to Dan for pointing that out.

Bad Weather Coming

It's supposed to rain on Saturday AND Sunday. Jeff = Not Happy

Nothing to Report

I really have nothing to talk about. I've been spending lots of time exercising and I've made a whole-hearted attempt at dropping bad food from my diet. I have cut my vitamin water intake down to a few bottles a week. Now for those who know me, know how addicted to vitamin water I am. It's not easy for me but I'm sticking to my plan. I went riding after school today for about an hour and a half. I love how it stays light out later, more time to ride.