The Promise of Citizenship

Today is the primary election for Illinois. Have you voted yet? I have. It's a pretty amazing thing, when you think about it. The vote. I put some marks next to some peoples names. One of whom, I know and the rest are ambiguous mysteries with their public lives as open as Ubuntu and their private lives sequestered in the murky shadows of, well, privacy. Which is just as well because, I'm really not interested in their private lives. I just want them to perform the duties of their office well and with out totally destroying our rights as citizens of this nation.

At this point it doesn't feel like many of us has a say in the way things work around here. I don't feel like I have a say in whether our army goes to war or not. So the best I can do is try to elect and get elected people who will act in the same manner or better than I would if I was in their situation.

If you haven't already, you should go vote, it's fun and you get to feel like you've had a say in something.

A new goal.

http://www.panamericantour.net/

I'm going to do the Panamerican Trail! It's about 16 to 18 months long from the tippy top of Alaska to the bitty bottom of Argentina! Sounds like fun. I'm going get my grant and proposal writing skills up to snuff. Also, I need a new bike for this one. Something a bit more rugged. Possibly a Mountain Bike. I wonder if any bicycle companies sponsor touring riders...

Bicycle Accident

On the 2nd of January I was hit by a taxi while riding home from a movie. I can't make any other statements other than that because of potential legal repercussions. I'm alive and that is good.

Back in the CHI

After an amazing time in Denver, CO with my friend Amy and pretty much her entire building (thanks guys and gals)! Denver rawks!

I'm in the CHI. One more time.

Jonathan and I

This is me and my friend Jonathan from Moscow, ID. We're standing in front of the best gear shop in town! He happens to work there and that's where we met!

No help from the VA...

For those of you who don't know. I'm a veteran of our United States
Army. I have a health care related issue and I'm not surprised at all
that I can't get any help from the VA for this tooth of mine.

If you feel so inclined. Please write your congressman and/or senator
and express the need for a better health care system in this country.
Especially for people who've given something up for it.

My damn tooth.

I've been having some problems with one of my teeth. The same one that I've had worked on several times. I figured it would be ok if I just left it alone and stopped eating on that side of my mouth. Well, last night I woke up around 11pm with the most intense pain in my tooth. It eventually subsided and I was able to get a wonderful nights sleep. I woke up this morning and while taking stock of my body, noticed that my gum was incredibly swollen! My tooth is now loosy goosy and I think I may loose it. Which means that I will have a gap in my mouth!

I have an appointment today for a cursery exam of my tooth that will probably cost me around $100! If indeed I do lose my tooth. You will find me taking a little trip down to Mexico or India or some other place and having an implant done for a quarter of the cost. The prices here are rediculous! Of course I am in one of the poshest cities in the US. Steamboat Springs, CO where a simple breakfast of one single egg and nothing else will cost you six bucks. That doesn't include toast or coffee.

It's a good thing I stealth camped last night! Free is the only way to stay!

I love my teeth, but I love to eat more. Come on national health care plan!