two fewer wheels

I had just gotten to the beach and locked my bike up when there was a loud pop.  Everyone on the beach heard it and tried to figure out what it was, I didn't really pay attention.  I realized later when I got on my bike to head home that the noise was my tire popping.

The tube got pulled out by a good samaritan who saw me walking my bike along the side of the road and tried to fix it.  It's been nice during this past year to be constantly reminded that there are a lot of people who help for no reason.

But my bike could not be quick fixed, and thus I am left with only my two feet to carry me wherever I need to go.  Well, my two feet and my various friends who have helped me with rides.

I've got work tomorrow but I hope to have things more sorted out so that on Wednesday I can get started with the next chapter of my life.  Oh and tomorrow is my first day in Boca so that should be cool.  I still haven't even been there, so getting to see my new work environment for the first time will be fun if nothing else.

And I got to have lunch here today:

so at least my days off weren't a total wash.

the hits keep coming

Yesterday when it was time to take Jon to the airport I said, "I'm going to run the trash to the dumpster and then we should get going".  When I returned Jon was standing outside of the apt with his bags in hand looking at me expectantly.  It was then that we realized we both thought the other one had the keys, and Jon definitely closed the door behind him.  The locked door.

My upstairs neighbor Mike tried to break in for me but to no avail.  I guess I feel slightly reassured about the security of my apt, but still I was hoping he would be able to get in.  Instead I had to pay A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY for a locksmith to let me in to my own apartment.  At least we were able to get inside and Jon made it on to the last flight home for the day.

Since I now have zero dollars to my name until whenever I get my first paycheck for my new job I decided to go for a nice cost free bike ride yesterday afternoon.  You can imagine how I felt when I was about 5 miles from home and realized that I had a flat tire.

This being the 2nd time I had taken my bike out I was a little discouraged.  Thankfully the bike store was still open when I got back to it yesterday afternoon and although they weren't particularly compassionate they did fix my flat at an extreme discount.  They said they couldn't help it that I got a flat tire and that it was just an unfortunate accident.  I had to push down all my emotions in to that dark place deep in the pit of my stomach and accept that things are just not going my way.

But of course, when you bottle up all your feelings they inevitably come back to bite you in the ass.  Cut to this morning when I get my bike out to go get coffee and I discover IT HAS A FLAT TIRE AGAIN!

At least this time I got a, "I've never seen this happen before" from the bike shop guys and they did fix it completely for free.  They also gave me a new super thick tire tube that they said should prevent it from happening again.  We'll see.

I'm going to ride it to the beach now, hopefully without incident.  Of course, knowing my luck both wheels will just go flying off once I'm as far away from home as possible.

WISH ME LUCK PLEASE THANK YOU.