Upper 80s and low humidity for day six. Congratulations to all the riders for their work!
I got my brakes done. $512 later. *bleh*
Mikey's back in Milwaukee. He's a bit sunburned, sore, and quite tired, but he's home safely. I'm driving to Madison for business on Tuesday and I'm going to loiter a bit longer and drive to Milwaukee :)
Was a quiet day, bummed around the Mall of America for a while. Had dinner at Chevy's during which Mikey called. He could interrupt anything anytime he wants :)
He'd not gotten my voicemail and wanted to make sure he'd not missed me in Chicago. We talked briefly and then I saw him on line later. He'd dozed off in front of the computer. I thought that was my job!!
We talked for about two hours until he had to go to bed for fall out of his chair. Tomorrow is Sunday. Only two days til Tuesday :)
14 July 2001
12 July 2001
2001 AIDS Ride, Day 4
Middle 80s and low humidity for day four.
My roommate had to be at work at 6am, so I rolled out of bed at 5am and dragged him to work. I came home and got about four hours of sleep. I missed the phone ringing when my friend Dan called about going to lunch, but heard the voice mail notifier going off.
Just after 11, Mikey called and woke me up. This was great for two reasons. One, it was MIKEY! Two, I was supposed to pick up Jay (my roommate) from work at 11.
I talked to Mikey for a few minutes. He'd only been able to complete 66 of the first days 82 miles. He completed the second day's 102 miles and the 110 miles on day three. His knee was bothering him, so he was "sacking" or sitting out today.
I picked up Jay and went to work. We headed out at 5 from work and picked up a nice new gas grill and some fans for the house. $355 spent at Homo Depot. I wasn't really happy about the fact that we'd just dropped my entire NDC check. But since I didn't see my brakes getting done, I was just peachy anyways.
We got home, got the grill set up and all that shtuff. I logged in and talked to a couple of friends and really had a bad feeling about us having spent the money at Homo Depot.
I get ready to go to bed at 10 and find that Mikey has left me a voice mail with a bit of an update on the ride...and ends his message with "Looking forward to seeing in Chicago on Saturday"
Sigh. Okay. I now feel like shit.
I need to sell my soul. Cheap. Air/Rail tickets to Chicago. Now.
My roommate had to be at work at 6am, so I rolled out of bed at 5am and dragged him to work. I came home and got about four hours of sleep. I missed the phone ringing when my friend Dan called about going to lunch, but heard the voice mail notifier going off.
Just after 11, Mikey called and woke me up. This was great for two reasons. One, it was MIKEY! Two, I was supposed to pick up Jay (my roommate) from work at 11.
I talked to Mikey for a few minutes. He'd only been able to complete 66 of the first days 82 miles. He completed the second day's 102 miles and the 110 miles on day three. His knee was bothering him, so he was "sacking" or sitting out today.
I picked up Jay and went to work. We headed out at 5 from work and picked up a nice new gas grill and some fans for the house. $355 spent at Homo Depot. I wasn't really happy about the fact that we'd just dropped my entire NDC check. But since I didn't see my brakes getting done, I was just peachy anyways.
We got home, got the grill set up and all that shtuff. I logged in and talked to a couple of friends and really had a bad feeling about us having spent the money at Homo Depot.
I get ready to go to bed at 10 and find that Mikey has left me a voice mail with a bit of an update on the ride...and ends his message with "Looking forward to seeing in Chicago on Saturday"
Sigh. Okay. I now feel like shit.
I need to sell my soul. Cheap. Air/Rail tickets to Chicago. Now.
11 July 2001
2001 AIDS Ride, Day 3
The weather is holding out, with high clouds increasing which will help keep the sun from beating down so intensely tomorrow for the riders.
I started the work day at 11.30 at a lunch meeting about a side project we have going. I got into the office at about 2pm and left at 3pm to take Jay (my roommate) to work and take myself to NDC-TV to cover the bi-monthly NDC Cable Commission meeting. The meeting went well and except for a glitch inthe first five minutes, it was very smooth.
I picked up Jay after the meeting and headed home. On the way, Jay reminded me, he has to be at work from 6a-11a tomorrow. I looked at my watch, 11pm. Oh Joy.
As I type this, it's now 2.30am and I'm just gonna take him to work, come home, snooze a bit, pick him up, drop him at Hockey Net, go to lunch with my friend Dan, and then head home to sleep.
Night all. Mikey, my thoughts are with you.
I'm planning on being in Chicago on Saturday for the end of the ride to welcome Mikey back. I'm hoping he'll call tomorrow night as he'll be close to Madison and can get good digital coverage.
He'll be dead tired and sore most likely, so if he doesn't call, it won't bother me.
I started the work day at 11.30 at a lunch meeting about a side project we have going. I got into the office at about 2pm and left at 3pm to take Jay (my roommate) to work and take myself to NDC-TV to cover the bi-monthly NDC Cable Commission meeting. The meeting went well and except for a glitch inthe first five minutes, it was very smooth.
I picked up Jay after the meeting and headed home. On the way, Jay reminded me, he has to be at work from 6a-11a tomorrow. I looked at my watch, 11pm. Oh Joy.
As I type this, it's now 2.30am and I'm just gonna take him to work, come home, snooze a bit, pick him up, drop him at Hockey Net, go to lunch with my friend Dan, and then head home to sleep.
Night all. Mikey, my thoughts are with you.
I'm planning on being in Chicago on Saturday for the end of the ride to welcome Mikey back. I'm hoping he'll call tomorrow night as he'll be close to Madison and can get good digital coverage.
He'll be dead tired and sore most likely, so if he doesn't call, it won't bother me.
10 July 2001
2001 AIDS Ride, Day 2
Thank you God and Goddess for giving us better weather for the riders. Temperatures in the low 80 and low humidities will make for much better riding conditions. I've been following the web reports from the wonderful folks at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church whose 100+ riders in "Team Oz" was a wonderful sight to see at ride out. The pictures and reports on their site made me smile and realize that I was truly missing out on a great thing.
It was a slow day at work today. Slow slow slow. I went home and got some more sleep.
Hopefully, Wednesday will be more interesting.
It was a slow day at work today. Slow slow slow. I went home and got some more sleep.
Hopefully, Wednesday will be more interesting.
09 July 2001
2001 AIDS Ride, Day 1
Today's Password(s): Anxiety and Pride
4 am.
The alarm clock goes off and Mike gets up in a panic. He showers and starts packing everything once...twice...three times a lady. Errr...sorry about that. We get everything together and headed over to Concordia. We got his gear checked in. He got his bike all ready. I left Mike as he went into the rider breakfast and the opening ceremonies.
It's now just before 6am and I'm sitting on the Hamline Ave. bridge over John Ireland Blvd. There are a few scattered people on the bridge and I took more pictures for Mike. I'm alternating between excitement and tears as the moment of Ride Out nears. A few of us start talking, and sharing our stories of "our" riders and such.
Suddenly, the first riders appear and we are cheering them on...every last rider. I'm scanning the crowd for the A-Team's yellow jersies. Suddenly, I see them and I'm screaming out "Go A-Team!!" and then I saw Mikey. My heart swelled with pride as my eyes filled with tears. Mikey and I had hit it off after finally meeting and here he was about to ride 521 miles to Chicago.
I got a couple of pictures of him. I really couldn't do anything much after that except cry and clap.
The riders kept thanking us for cheering them. My response was "No, Thank YOU for riding." For the last three years, I've said, I'm going to ride the Ride. But I never have. Actually having been in the registration queue, and at the start, and meeting the people from ARCW who benefit from the Ride, but also give of themselves to ride, made me realize 2002 is My Ride. I will do it.
My fear of the ride...and fear of the pain...
was totally smashed today...
I saw 1700 riders with one goal
and 1700 smiles...
and 1700 people...with 1700 reasons other than themselves...
and I cried.
and cried.
and cried.
and I felt so ashamed and weak
and I *will* do the ride next summer
and I *will* make it all 521 miles
for every friend I lost in college...to friends I may never have
to people who did nothing
'cept love someone.
Mike left today in a crowd of 1700 cyclists. I'm with him, in spirit, but I'm with him.
I walked the 8 blocks to my truck in tears. I got more hugs and smiles on the way back to my truck. I gave hugs and smiles too. I drove to work and sat around in a daze. The morning had drained me before 9am.
I aimlessly drifted through the day and after errands and more errands and dinner, I watched the news. I saw my fat self crying on the bridge and worse, in Monday's 95F/36C weather, three riders had to be taken to hospital for sunstroke and/or dehydration. Blessedly, a cool front went through and temperatures for the ride on Tuesday were forecast in the low 80s with much lower humidity.
I finally made it to bed at 3am. 23 very longs hours after I had gotten up. My mind was at rest, but
4 am.
The alarm clock goes off and Mike gets up in a panic. He showers and starts packing everything once...twice...three times a lady. Errr...sorry about that. We get everything together and headed over to Concordia. We got his gear checked in. He got his bike all ready. I left Mike as he went into the rider breakfast and the opening ceremonies.
It's now just before 6am and I'm sitting on the Hamline Ave. bridge over John Ireland Blvd. There are a few scattered people on the bridge and I took more pictures for Mike. I'm alternating between excitement and tears as the moment of Ride Out nears. A few of us start talking, and sharing our stories of "our" riders and such.
Suddenly, the first riders appear and we are cheering them on...every last rider. I'm scanning the crowd for the A-Team's yellow jersies. Suddenly, I see them and I'm screaming out "Go A-Team!!" and then I saw Mikey. My heart swelled with pride as my eyes filled with tears. Mikey and I had hit it off after finally meeting and here he was about to ride 521 miles to Chicago.
I got a couple of pictures of him. I really couldn't do anything much after that except cry and clap.
The riders kept thanking us for cheering them. My response was "No, Thank YOU for riding." For the last three years, I've said, I'm going to ride the Ride. But I never have. Actually having been in the registration queue, and at the start, and meeting the people from ARCW who benefit from the Ride, but also give of themselves to ride, made me realize 2002 is My Ride. I will do it.
My fear of the ride...and fear of the pain...
was totally smashed today...
I saw 1700 riders with one goal
and 1700 smiles...
and 1700 people...with 1700 reasons other than themselves...
and I cried.
and cried.
and cried.
and I felt so ashamed and weak
and I *will* do the ride next summer
and I *will* make it all 521 miles
for every friend I lost in college...to friends I may never have
to people who did nothing
'cept love someone.
Mike left today in a crowd of 1700 cyclists. I'm with him, in spirit, but I'm with him.
I walked the 8 blocks to my truck in tears. I got more hugs and smiles on the way back to my truck. I gave hugs and smiles too. I drove to work and sat around in a daze. The morning had drained me before 9am.
I aimlessly drifted through the day and after errands and more errands and dinner, I watched the news. I saw my fat self crying on the bridge and worse, in Monday's 95F/36C weather, three riders had to be taken to hospital for sunstroke and/or dehydration. Blessedly, a cool front went through and temperatures for the ride on Tuesday were forecast in the low 80s with much lower humidity.
I finally made it to bed at 3am. 23 very longs hours after I had gotten up. My mind was at rest, but
08 July 2001
2001 AIDS Ride, Day Zero
Mike had his registration day, tent assignment, safety video, etc...
I walked with Mike to Concordia for check-in. At check-in, they had huge "Rememberence Boards" for people to sign their rememberences. Mike signed for his best friend Bill who had passed away earlier this year. I could only hold Mike as he cried. We got him through the 90 minute line to turn in his pledges ($3003 for Mike, *beams with pride*) and through registration. I couldn't watch the hour long safety video with him, so I went back to the house and laid down for a bit. A couple of hours later, he called, back at the hotel. I drove back down there and we drove up to meet my boss for dinner. It was a casual dinner and we then headed down to St. Paul to meet the rest of the team GO A-TEAM!! that Mike is riding with. Mike works for ARCW (AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin) and we met the group from ARCW who was riding for the "A-TEAM." We walked down to Wabasha St. in downtown St. Paul and had a large boisterous dinner in preparation for the ride the next morning.
I had a great time and really didn't feel that much out of place. It was a great evening and we had a blast over dinner.
Mike and I headed back to my truck and drove back to the hotel for a mostly sleepless night of tossing and turning as nerves took control of Mike.
I walked with Mike to Concordia for check-in. At check-in, they had huge "Rememberence Boards" for people to sign their rememberences. Mike signed for his best friend Bill who had passed away earlier this year. I could only hold Mike as he cried. We got him through the 90 minute line to turn in his pledges ($3003 for Mike, *beams with pride*) and through registration. I couldn't watch the hour long safety video with him, so I went back to the house and laid down for a bit. A couple of hours later, he called, back at the hotel. I drove back down there and we drove up to meet my boss for dinner. It was a casual dinner and we then headed down to St. Paul to meet the rest of the team GO A-TEAM!! that Mike is riding with. Mike works for ARCW (AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin) and we met the group from ARCW who was riding for the "A-TEAM." We walked down to Wabasha St. in downtown St. Paul and had a large boisterous dinner in preparation for the ride the next morning.
I had a great time and really didn't feel that much out of place. It was a great evening and we had a blast over dinner.
Mike and I headed back to my truck and drove back to the hotel for a mostly sleepless night of tossing and turning as nerves took control of Mike.
2001 AIDS Ride, Day Zero
Mike had his registration day, tent assignment, safety video, etc...
I walked with Mike to Concordia for check-in. At check-in, they had huge "Rememberence Boards" for people to sign their rememberences. Mike signed for his best friend Bill who had passed away earlier this year. I could only hold Mike as he cried. We got him through the 90 minute line to turn in his pledges ($3003 for Mike, *beams with pride*) and through registration. I couldn't watch the hour long safety video with him, so I went back to the house and laid down for a bit. A couple of hours later, he called, back at the hotel. I drove back down there and we drove up to meet my boss for dinner. It was a casual dinner and we then headed down to St. Paul to meet the rest of the team GO A-TEAM!! that Mike is riding with. Mike works for ARCW (AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin) and we met the group from ARCW who was riding for the "A-TEAM." We walked down to Wabasha St. in downtown St. Paul and had a large boisterous dinner in preparation for the ride the next morning.
I had a great time and really didn't feel that much out of place. It was a great evening and we had a blast over dinner.
Mike and I headed back to my truck and drove back to the hotel for a mostly sleepless night of tossing and turning as nerves took control of Mike.
I walked with Mike to Concordia for check-in. At check-in, they had huge "Rememberence Boards" for people to sign their rememberences. Mike signed for his best friend Bill who had passed away earlier this year. I could only hold Mike as he cried. We got him through the 90 minute line to turn in his pledges ($3003 for Mike, *beams with pride*) and through registration. I couldn't watch the hour long safety video with him, so I went back to the house and laid down for a bit. A couple of hours later, he called, back at the hotel. I drove back down there and we drove up to meet my boss for dinner. It was a casual dinner and we then headed down to St. Paul to meet the rest of the team GO A-TEAM!! that Mike is riding with. Mike works for ARCW (AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin) and we met the group from ARCW who was riding for the "A-TEAM." We walked down to Wabasha St. in downtown St. Paul and had a large boisterous dinner in preparation for the ride the next morning.
I had a great time and really didn't feel that much out of place. It was a great evening and we had a blast over dinner.
Mike and I headed back to my truck and drove back to the hotel for a mostly sleepless night of tossing and turning as nerves took control of Mike.
07 July 2001
Saturday rolled around and I was enjoying a quiet...
Saturday rolled around and I was enjoying a quiet morning. I was laying in bed waiting for my friend Mike to call and let me know that he was in town.
He expected to get in about 3 or 4pm. When the phone rang at 1.45pm, I was surprised yet happy. I've known Mikey on-line for just shy of a year and a half. Our attraction to each other over the last few months had become obvious to both of us. We both had plotted schemes to visit each other but none had worked. Now Mikey was in town and it was time to see how things went. I was nervous as hell. I got stuff ready and headed over to his hotel.
I knocked on his hotel room door and when he opened it, my initial reaction was "Ooops, I have the wrong room!". "JT!" was Mike's reaction and I knew I had the right room, but Mikey was better looking than his pictures. We sat around and chatted for a while.
We decided to head out to Valleyfair, a local amusement park. I was planning on running up to one of the northern suburbs to get gas at 1.19/gallon, but Mike was getting hungry, so I scrapped that plan.
For those of you who know the Twin Cities well, here's the route from the Midway to Shakopee...
* Snelling Ave North
* I-694 West
* US10 West
* MN 610 West
* US 169 South
* Hennepin Cty 62 West
* MN 101 South
* Hennepin Cty 101 South
Took me 1h 45m to get from St. Paul to Shakopee. Granted if I had been paying attention to driving and hadn't been totally enthralled with Mike, I'd have taken a *much* more direct route.
We ate dinner at Perkins in Shakopee and were less than impressed with the food and the service. We were at Valleyfair for less than 30 minutes and Mike wasn't dealing well with the heat. With him facing the Heartland AIDS Ride starting Monday morning, we left and went back to his hotel room and just chatted and made out.
We went out to dinner on Saturday night with my roommate Jay and his friend Heather from work. We went to the Davanni's in Bloomington and hung out for a couple hours.
Jay and Heather went back to the house and crashed, while Mikey and I went back to the hotel.
He expected to get in about 3 or 4pm. When the phone rang at 1.45pm, I was surprised yet happy. I've known Mikey on-line for just shy of a year and a half. Our attraction to each other over the last few months had become obvious to both of us. We both had plotted schemes to visit each other but none had worked. Now Mikey was in town and it was time to see how things went. I was nervous as hell. I got stuff ready and headed over to his hotel.
I knocked on his hotel room door and when he opened it, my initial reaction was "Ooops, I have the wrong room!". "JT!" was Mike's reaction and I knew I had the right room, but Mikey was better looking than his pictures. We sat around and chatted for a while.
We decided to head out to Valleyfair, a local amusement park. I was planning on running up to one of the northern suburbs to get gas at 1.19/gallon, but Mike was getting hungry, so I scrapped that plan.
For those of you who know the Twin Cities well, here's the route from the Midway to Shakopee...
* Snelling Ave North
* I-694 West
* US10 West
* MN 610 West
* US 169 South
* Hennepin Cty 62 West
* MN 101 South
* Hennepin Cty 101 South
Took me 1h 45m to get from St. Paul to Shakopee. Granted if I had been paying attention to driving and hadn't been totally enthralled with Mike, I'd have taken a *much* more direct route.
We ate dinner at Perkins in Shakopee and were less than impressed with the food and the service. We were at Valleyfair for less than 30 minutes and Mike wasn't dealing well with the heat. With him facing the Heartland AIDS Ride starting Monday morning, we left and went back to his hotel room and just chatted and made out.
We went out to dinner on Saturday night with my roommate Jay and his friend Heather from work. We went to the Davanni's in Bloomington and hung out for a couple hours.
Jay and Heather went back to the house and crashed, while Mikey and I went back to the hotel.
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