Hard

I guess I can't write too much about my new job, but here's the short of it. I'll be writing reports about historic military sites.

I'm pretty excited about it; except that before I actually start working I have to have a background check and not just a lightweight one either, no, a military one. And among other things they're checking my medical, financial, and criminal histories and I have to fill out a form with every single place I've lived for the past seven years along with everywhere I've worked, including periods of unemployment.* I got finger-printed today and the official parking sticker for my car. Once I get cleared then I have to go through a training about how to be official at work.

On the downside my commute will be 6.2 miles and I'm going to try to ride through most of the winter. I've mapped my route and found a way to get there that doesn't involve too many busy streets, except that I'll have to go around the mall.** On the plus side, I get to go past the mall! I can shop whenever I want.


*I'm taking a break because my head has started to hurt from all the forms.
**Imagine any mall in America and you'll get the basic picture.

What in the what.

I just got a job.

I want to go to there

On the middle bay door there's a hole to run the car's exhaust out, on the inside of the glass someone has written "mail" with an arrow pointing to the hole. Of course on the outside, and one would assume to the mail carrier, it shows up as liam.

It's empty, a sign on the door says they're out of business because of "no work." I'm already designing what my office will look like there.

It's been a long time, baby

Last night I went over to the bike co-op and had some help getting the drive side bottom bracket cup pulled out. It involved a nasty chemical spray, an adjustable wrench, a blow torch, and then the bench vice; after all that it came out relatively easily. And so, I spent last night finally putting on all the parts I've been accumulating for this bike for two years. I think the bars look spectacular.

Here's the run-down, not that you care:

1. Old French frame, a Mercier Tour de France. I bought it already set up as a single speed.
2. The wheels are old Weinmann's back when they were made in Belgium. The rims are unusual because they're concave instead of convex and have an interesting spoke pattern.
   
3. No name 18 tooth freewheel.
4. Original leather Agda saddle.
   
5. Sturmy-Archer stem.
6. Nitto Promenade B-601 handle bars.
7. Paul Components Love Levers.
8. Cork grips; sanded and shellacked.
9. Dia-Compe center pull brakes (They just started remaking these. Also I had to rebuild the front one because the bolt was too short for the fork.).
10. Stainless steel braided brake cable from Velo-Orange.
11. 107mm French threaded bottom bracket from Velo-Orange (they just started remaking these as well).
    
12. What I think is a Solida crank I bought off of craigslist. I like it because it has "Made in France" stamped on it.
13. MKS track pedals, but I might switch these back to the original touring pedals that came with the bike.
14. Continental Ultra tires.
    
15. Bontrager tubes.