If Godzilla Shook Hands

Dear Reader,

So about six weeks ago or so, I started trying to ride a bike again with some frequency and consistency. While mentally the weather was beating me down, my pants were fitting much tighter than normal and if I knew didn’t do something I’d be in the Clydesdales class in no time. So I started the search for my legs on the roads, and trails of our town. That very first week, my very first mtb ride outside was through Rittenhouse park with Shane and Jeffy.

 Not the most thought out plan ever. I was well in over my head. It wasn’t too long before I was over my bars too.  That very first week, I hurt my hand, and frankly, it’s been a nagging injury since. Pretty much every time I’ve been on the bike, I get a shoot pain through it.

Last week was the first time since Shane and Jeffy launched me over my bars, that I could remember riding and not having my hand hurt.  I was pretty stoked. Fast Forward to Saturday afternoon: we were in the bike shop seeing some friends and talking some smack. A dude that I used to  ride with a bunch, but hadn’t seen for a while  came in and shook my hand. Only, it wasn’t really like shaking hands with a man, but with godzilla. I get the firm hand shake thing, but this dude crushed my hand. 

After the initially shake, I could feel him squeezing tighter and tighter. It took everything I had in my small suitcase of courage to not just rip my hand back. Hell, we might as well just have had an arm wrestling match.  I swear I heard my hand crack…  it really, really hurt. Instantly, my hand was back to day one where you know Jeffy and Shane threw me over my handlebars.  So needless to say, I’m stoked that I’m having a tough time hanging on to my bars again, and well you know typing, or doing anything with my hand. Guys, it’s 2013, I respect the firm handshake, but can we put an end into the “let’s see how hard we can squeeze “ shake? Either that or lets just decide to punch each other or wrestle when we great each other. "great to see you again! insert single leg takedown"

.

I had my final last night. It went pretty well I think. This was the hardest class I have taken thus far in grad school. It pushed me out of my wheelhouse a bit, and I kinda dug it. The final was tricky, and really hard. I'm hoping for a good grade, but I also feel good just getting through that thing... 3 hours... I am offically, assuming that I didn't totally blow the test, half way through school. One more year... One more year....

thanks for reading.

respect

Vanderbacon