Why Do I Do That When I Drive?

I give credit to my parents. We used to get to go in the car when we were little in order to put us to sleep. A quick little loop around the block, and it was lights out. Comfortable, rolling along, car sounds, etc. Good times. I think. I was asleep.

Well - as a young adult, I thought that I had grown out of this trait. Long car trips, attempting to sleep across the back seat were near failures. Early morning and through-the-night shifts became my staples, as I wouldn't get sleepy or really all that slack-minded during the drive. yes. Slack mind. it's when your mind goes numb from driving in the middle of the night, and you stop paying attention, and start to think about your day, or the concept of being sucked into a black hole ... because in terms of direct spacial relationships, it is a pinpoint in space, so you can't really be sucked into it ... you'd be sucked TO it and be crushed to an infinitesimal amount, however, in terms of the gravity and space-time continuum view - you would be falling into an infinitely large (or infinitely negative depending on your conception of the infinite/neg-infinite overlap) hole ... but then in terms of time - since time is relative to the frequency of input from external sources, and you would be floating in space before being sucked in - the only measure of time being your own biological rumblings - then you would possibly not even have a concept of time passing at it's normal rate - and since much of our input comes from what we see - and you would not see a black hole - it's questionable whether you would even know that you were being sucked into it as it was happening - and certainly there would be no way to tell anyone else about it, as all of the electromagnetic spectrum that we currently use for communication is ravenously sucked back into the very maw that you are entering ... beknownst to you or not. And then you almost slam into the back of a mini-van going 50 in the 65 zone - where you have been going 80+ because your lead foot was on night overdrive, and you slam on the breaks, swerve, avoid collision, speed back up to pass them - in the hopes that they didn't really notice you coming out of the darkness like a flaming banshee and sidestepping them at the last minute in a move perfected by American football players nationwide ... or at the very least you went by fast enough that they can't get your plate number. And then everyone else in the car, that has now been jolted awake, is available to chat about your recent metaphysical theories.

And - I had grown out of it. Unless someone ELSE was driving. then I'd be out like a Nintendo Wii at at BestBuy. However ... in the last few years I've started 'feeling drowsy' (read napping) while driving. I usually pull over and pawer-nap it out ... but occasionally there simple is not enough time in the day to afford that 20 minute energy re-boot.

Hence - the teeth brushing. I brush my teeth non-stop during a drive, when I am about to fall asleep. It keeps me awake. and promotes good dental hygiene. The only thing is that recently I have been getting sleepy within the first 45 minutes. and then brushing for the next couple hours ... not the best idea.

not sure if I was really going anywhere with that ... just that it sucks to start falling asleep every time you go on a long drive in the car ... and even worse when it's you driving. I mean ... not to make you feel any less safe on the road ... I'm actually quite a good driver asleep ... I mean ... please ... even asleep I do better than most flatlanders ... ;)

Good Morning.

A pleasant evening was had by all.

Lovely dinner at the little sister's house, almost one game of scrabble (if you play two half games, because everyone but me gets bored, does that count as one? I think not), and it looks to be a glorious morning to head into Burlington and get some glass blowing done!

Not entirely sure what I want to make though ... because if I make pendants, they always sell, and similarly with rings ... but since it's partially for demo in the store, and not actually my oxy/prop that is being used ... I feel like I should do something much cooler to show off and have fun. ...and not necessarily make any money...

so - I need ideas (and possibly a good working picture) for what to make. All ideas welcome - obviously some take longer and are more complicated than others - but I need a list, because I can make it with a good pic, but then I'd have to think it up AND make it. way too much work.

Nap.

And I needed it.

Plus I'd just overcooked a batch of brownies. well ... I'm pretty sure that the oven burnt them ... since they were supposed to be in there for 40 minutes (I know, crazy long, but this was a huge batch) and I only left them in for 1/2 hour before the smoke alarm started going off. ...In my defense, it wasn't actually smoking ... or really burning (that one's a blatant lie), but the smoke detector must have had the dl, and knew.

So - between the rampant yet completely unproductive insomnia, way too much driving back and forth from Btown to the house today, and the oven of satan - I was more that ready to fend off lucidness as I hit the comforter and feather pillows.

Of course, I'm awake now ... and that means that I have to find something to keep me entertained for the next few hours ... because I can't possibly go back to sleep now ... might ruin my reputation. so - I have been debating between browsing Wikipedia, bbc.uk, randomly typing letters into online dictionaries to see what words they give me, and playing online scrabble till I get into a losing streak with a 1200 level player, just as I am about to solidify my cusp over 1100 ... and then go to bed mumbling archaic profanities that only count as words because you can play them in a tournament game and would never be used in real life ... and resolve to not play so many games in a row in the future ... especially not late at night as your vision starts to blur ... and definitely not if you're in a winning streak ... that's just asking for it.

Chinese Food.

Yep.

On possibly the single best hydration day yet. Great. I go and blow it on tons of super-high sodium food and enough carbs to do sprints tomorrow without any energy lag problem.
I mean - it was great. Don't get me wrong - I certainly wouldn't have eaten it if I wasn't feeling so satisfied with the meal in general that I couldn't convince myself to stop. That darn Lee's Chinese ... so delicious ... and then an hour later, when you're hungry - it's delicious all over again. how do they do that? like ... nachos the next day - not good at all. lo mein - wonderful. corn soufflé - fallen and soggy; fried dumplings - still salubrious.

amazing.

and now I'm chugging glasses of water, to try to catch back up on my regimen. Funny thing ... I drank two vitamin drinks after the chinese, been pounding water, and I'm actually still really thirsty.

Hydration.

officially sucks. 16 cups daily for regular people .... 5 quarts daily for active people ....

and -

as much as 10 liters daily for endurance athletes. okay. I'm not an endurance athlete. but I'm also not a fish. drink 1 liter of water before every workout, rehydrate afterwards. ummm ... I might make it through the workout with my belly sloshing around ... but I'd drown during recuperation!

seriously. I thought a couple nalgenes a day was doing great.

They Start ...

Props goes out to the Bike Center in Middlebury, VT for the first gear donation to actually come through!! A brand new pair of Cannondale shorts, and lots of inspirational advice, goes a long way to making me think that this can actually go through. I can actually get most of my gear from caring shops. I can raise $4,000.00 dollars through donations, and not by selling my body on the street corner ... or coming up with the short side of the four grand out of pocket.

And besides the fact that bike shorts inherently make you look both idiotic and strangely athletic at the same time, they're great! now ... if anyone knows a hook-up for a shoe/pedal system, helmet, long biking wear, tires, tools, etc - let me know!

Just A Reminder ...

btw people - bikeandbuild - I need to raise $4,000.00 by May 08.
$2,000.00 of that needs to be in by January ... anything that you can think of to help is greatly appreciated.
donations from local groups, a bike shop near you that might be interested in donating gear, friends and family that might just think that it's such a weird and cool thing to bike cross country in two months and build houses for affordable housing that they want to donate $20 or $50 or $100. 501(c)3 charity totally tax deductible.
even if it's just giving me the number of a bike shop, and the person to contact, and having me do the final legwork. every little bit helps. I have a list of about $1,500.00 worth of gear that I need to acquire one way or another before I head off ... $20 buys a new chain, $40 a tire, $60 a pair of shorts ... every amount moves me closer to realizing the final goal - and then I can stop thinking about it!!
it's like public radio ... you want me to go on the trip. you want to know what happens. you'll check the blog. so - how much is that worth to you? to see me succeed? $20? $40? I've already put in $400 myself ... not including the gear that I already own ... I'd like to be able to say that all the rest came from caring individuals .... ;) enough guilt?
basically - even if you don't donate money, but know someone who does and you can twist their arm ... or print out a few fliers for free at your job/campus/parents' and distribute them around town to see if anyone bites - that's helping.
I've attached my cover letter - feel free to do with them as you see fit!
The actual PDF I can send in email as either PDF, or Word doc.
Thanks in advance!!

cover letter ------------------------------------------------------------------------
can also be emailed to you in Word, Text, or plain text formatting.
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Elijah Schwartz
23 Goldman ln.
Jamaica, VT 05343
(802) 999 – 6021
EGSchwartz@GMail.com

Bike and Build Cyclist
Central United States 2008

Dear Community Member;

In an effort to better both myself and communities across the country, I have joined with Bike and Build for their 2008 season. Bike and Build is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing affordable housing, empowering young adults, and fostering the spirit of service. Throughout the nine week, 4,000 mile, cycling trip we will volunteer our time at local housing initiatives and bring media attention to the housing crisis in the United States.

To that end, I must raise $4,000.00 within the next several months. Some of which will go towards the necessary cycling gear, but the majority will be donated to affordable housing groups and charities nationwide.

I am asking for a monetary donation, either personal or from your business, to help me achieve my goal. I have enclosed contribution forms for your business, employees, friends, and family – should you/they choose to donate. The donation form amounts are not your only options, they just highlight the gift apparel that you can receive for meeting each tier. Please keep in mind that any donation amount is appreciated – and you can group together multiple donations. I am also offering – for any business donation – the choice of adding a four square inch sticker or patch with your logo to my bike or person.

Thank you for your consideration, help in distributing these forms, and charitable donation! Please feel free to contact me with questions at the above email address, or visit the Bike and Build website at www.BikeandBuild.org.

Sincerely,

Elijah Schwartz

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I.N.T.E.R.N.E.T.

yes. I have it.
hahahahahahah!
my precious.
yes.
yes.
and a plentiful tertiary helping of yes.
just for good measure.
sooo sleek.
sooo expensive.
sooo internetish.
yep.
it's a word.
I know because I found it on google.
1,070 pages.
anything that comes up on google is real.
I feel giddy.
it's like noticing that you now have another eye, and wondering what interesting things you will do with it next.
will we go to bbc.uk and check the world news?
play a round of scrabble at isc.ro?
or finally update the blog that has fallen into a sad state of disrepair?