Folicaly challenged?

I say let the viewers decide. I've been growing the hair out since October, and it's getting on m'nerves. So what's it gona be peeps? keep it or lose it?

Write your opinions to tommy@iela.net

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Welcome back Wind!

I've been going nutz lately because I've been too busy to get to the beach and launch my kite. My last jaunt to Belmont turned out to be a pathetic low-wind day that did nothing but tangle my lines and sunburn my nose. Yech.

Todays winds are promising to be good, though the meter online shows a shitty blow with nothing meeting the forcast, not even close.

With a week before I leave for the ride, I have to schedule everything very carefuly, and so I have FRIDAY targeted as my "Kite UP!" day- let's hope the heat wave fades enough to bring back a breeze.

On another note, I'll be getting my tix to Costa Rica soon, and Kiting from there while I enjoy my working vacation. Expect to see some awsome pics from that adventure in JULY~

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While LA was having a heatwave

I finally met up with Brian and Bart on Sunday, so they gave me some options. Brunch at a nice hotel, a walk in the park, museum or BEER BUST AT EAGLE.

Guess which I chose?

I chose to be gawked at and molested by dirty old men of course. OFF TO THE MUSEUM (lol, kiding). We were there 2 minutes before Billy walked in; HISTORY LESSON- Billy(left) and Brian(right) were a couple I knew in Los Angeles since 1993, and we three became best friends.(the guy in the middle is Billy's current beau). B&B moved to San Fran about 10 years ago or so, and though they split, have remained close. Bumping into Billy at Eagle was a complete surprise, and to be in the company of them again, us three, felt so nice and natural and warm and HOME I did not want to leave. These ops come around once in a while, very infrequently, and I was so longing to make it last. Regardless, we said our goodbyes, and Billy told me something he's never said to me before- he said "I Love You", and you know, I'm sure he meant it. I love you too Billy.

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It was like Casa del Sol de la Mañana, only supersized!

I had plans to meet Kelly and ED last night near my hotel to head over to Delores park, meet Brian and watch the weekly "Movie in the park". Last nights show was "The Wizard of Oz".

How nice, but I never made it.
Kelly and Ed and friends John and Laura decided they didn't want to go, so my ride was cancelled and I was wined and dined at John and Laura's new home in the Marina district instead. A beautiful, huge , spanish-revival townhouse built in 1929. Stunning. John and Laura were quite nice as well (John's a Neuro Surgeon). Brian was a little pissed, I'm on his shitlist for not showing up, but I had a great time anyway. Hopefully they'll invite me back again really soon.

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Sneak peek at swag tag
Bradley Estrin and I work togehter as co-founders of the ALC HERO squad, a group of riders who volunteer to promote AIDS and HIV awareness on the ride. Last year the HERO squad gave away the HERO bandana with the HEROES creed printed on it. This year we're giving away commemorative dogtags, with the HERO squad logo, and quote from the creed on them. Over 55 people signed up to be HERO squad members this year, that's huge. If we were a team we would be very proud to be one that size. The dogtags will be given out by squad members to other rides to promote more conversation and awareness of why we are all riding. Let's hope they are as popular as the bandanas were last year . . . .

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What remains, unbroken
My ride buddy, Mok, sent me this disturbing picture of himsef last night. It appears he was hit by an SUV while riding in Calabassas on Saturday. The driver drove through the red light on habit, seems many locals just ignore it when they're in hurry. Mok was thrown several feet into a grassy yard and sustained bumps and bruises and a torn ear, but no broken bones. His bike was a mangled twist of heartbreak though. A real mess.

In any another reality Mok would have died from his injuries. The human body simply does not respond well to those types of collisions. He's very lucky to be alive and walking. The very sad thing is that there was nothing Mok could do to prevent this, it was all the drivers fault. He hit Mok and another rider at the same time, head on. When I talked to Mok last night he said he spent 6 hours inthe emergency room, so he had some time to send photos and call people. Unless he heals very fast, I doubt he'll be able to do the ride this year. Hell, he doesn't even have a bike anymore. After months and months of training, to be romoved from the ride by one stupid driver is the vey saddest thing, less than two weeks from the event.

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Home front news- prepared to be floored
What would a Hell's basement post be without some reference to Home Improvement?

We were planning a party last week, and that gave us the perfect excuse to order new carpeting for the office/guest room. The BEFORE picture is here, after the original PINK carpet was removed(Geez, so smelly- that stuff should qualify for HAZMAT staus!) One more chip away at the memories of the previous owner. The new carpet (shown soon) is a fresh and subtle palomino color. Very nice. Very soft- mmmm and it gives our home that new house smell. sniff-sniff: Ahhhh!

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WHAT'S THIS ABOUT A JOB?
I know, weird right? The guy who swore he'd never go back to sitting in an office is, in fact, spnning his own wheel in the hampster cage? One more reason why blogging hasn't been a top priority lately- who has the time?
O.k, training for the AIDS/LifeCycle, producing the Donor T-shirt Incentive project, aanaging the HERO and the Safety Squads do take up most of my time, so something had to give when this gig came up. last November RPA interactive department offered me some freelance work, and since the Modern Nest project was temporarily on hold, I said yes.

I've been there ever since working primarily on Web ad design for Honda Certified Used cars. The thing is, I like the work. The people are fun, organized, professional, and they treat me like I know what I'm doing. Coming from 10 years of doing everything from customer service to copy writing, it's nice to work a job where all I do is art direct and design, and let others do the dirty work.
Because of this fact it doesn't feel like work at all, feels more like play, which is why I've stayed 7 months now, and I intend to stay as long as they let me.

Did I mention the pay is good too?

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Yes, and hello again. It's ben a while hasn't it? Would it be ridiculous for me to say, that one of the reasosn why I have taken a leave of absence, aside from the standard "I have been so freaking bizzy!" excuse, is because I wanted to see if anyone would notice?

It has been almost 6 months since my last post and today- why sitting in the bike dept at the sports basement in San Francisco, I get the text from a close friend saying "Hey! What's going on? You're blog is out of date!!?"

So, withing the next 5 mins, I was picking out this months header art and here we are, blogging once again.

SF? What is this, a travel blog?

This years donor T-shirt project was a lazy one. Fewer sign ups than usual, and a lot of late payments, coupled with backouts, and I'm wondering if this project has a future. I'm in SF to and out the donor t-shirts that were orderded by AIDS/LfeCycle participants in NoCal.
I now what you're going to ask next; "Why go to the hassle of going up there when you could just mail tem out?"

Now ask yourself: "Which would you rather do on your weekend? travel to SF, meet new interesting people, or spend it stuffing envelopes bags and bozes all day in your garage? It's a no-brainer for me. Plus I get to spend time with my fun and whacky friend Mickey(shown here last week in Los Angeles.)

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