To Work or Not to Work

Having a job has made me view my time and other things a lot differently than I previously had. Before I had a job, I thought that I didn't have any free time to just hang out and have fun. Now, I know that I don't have any extra time! Seriously though, I have realized that if there is something that needs to be done, whether it be chores or homework, or work outside of that, time can always be made to serve the purpose. Somethings like sleep or bike riding or practicing the horn might be done less frequently or for not as long, but all the necessities get done.
While it is possible to do all this, I'm beginning to question whether the money I make is worth my time. Sure, money is good to have, but how much better would my grades be if I spent even a fraction of the time I am at work studying? How much more fit would I be if I rode my bike all the days that I haven't been able to due to working? How much more relaxed would I be if I used that time to just hang out with my friends, or actually help out at home?
It's a double-edged sword, most definitely.

Windy Evening at the BBQ Fest

So last Friday, on the opening evening of the Barbeque Festival, the Apollo Jazz Band played music for an hour or so as entertainment. It was a fun time, but for the fact that a few things make the BBQ Fest one of my least favorite events. We had to be at the River Park at 5:45, so I left my house at 5:20 in earnest of finding a decent parking spot. Apparently I was not early enough. I finally found a parking spot at 5:40, 5 minutes before we were supposed to be infront of the River Park, seven blocks away at Allen St. and 7th. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I had to make two trips to carry all my stuff. Joe Stone came with me the second time and saved me from the ardous walking again by showing me his secret hiding spot to park. So we finally get up and start playing, but we're next to the river so it is hilariously windy. Even with the help of large paper clips to hold down my music, it still ends up blowing all over the stage no less than three times. We finally got done though, and playing at the BBQ fest was fun, but I'm glad it only comes once a year.

Mother's Day

So as we all know, last Sunday was that special day for all the ladies who are responsible for our existence here on this Earth. (With a little help from Pops, too.) But on this day, we honored our Mothers.
At my household, it was about 9 in the morning, and we had all just gotten home from church. My mom was deservedly sitting at the kitchen table reading and sipping hot tea, instead of her normal cooking routine on Sundays. Pops was at the stove making gravy or something, I don't recall, but anyway, he calls me over and whispers, "Do you have any money on you?" I did, so I said yes. His voice got a little louder, surely so that my mother would hear. "Ok, Joe, I want you to go to the store and get PEACHES IN HEAVY SYRUP AND FRUIT COCKTAIL AND BANANAS. THEN COME HOME, OK?!?!?!" I stared at him like he had grown a second head, but then a second later it clicked. I needed to get something special for madre. So with little brother in tow, I drove to the store and got the "necessary" items, plus a nice card and some flowers for the lady of the day. My brother was sulky that I didn't get her any candy. So I asked him, "Do I look like I'm made of money?" He goes, "Yeah, DUH!"

What a lovely day it was.

This time of the school year is absolute agony...

Well, here it is again. Approaching May, with a little more than a month left for school. It is going to be the longest month of my life, I can just feel it. I don't understand how this happens, this sluggish, unwilling attitude that grips me and my fellow students around this time each year. My head keeps telling me to press on with schoolwork, extracurriculars, and studying for AP tests and finals, et cetera, but I am mentally spent. I realize that this is just a fact of life that we all have to deal with, but regardless, I will be among the happiest to finally reach summer vacation so that we can all take a breather.

Wednesday Time Trial

So I did my first time trial yesterday at Panther Creek park, which was organized by River City Racing, the local team. I got there a bit late, so I got to start dead last. That's kind of a good thing, considering that makes it impossible for me to be caught, which really is demoralizing. I did manage to pass the two people in front of me, and came desperately close to passing a third person, whom I caught just after the finish line. I only averaged 20.67 miles per hour, which put me around the 9.8 mile course in about 28 minutes. Despite my mediocre time, I can't wait until next month when I can improve upon my time.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2010

I must say that I am surprised and a bit disappointed. This race is a Classic that waas won by Eddy Merckx 5 times, earning him the title "Mr. Liege-Bastonge-Liege. This year, the race was won by Alexandre Vinokourov, a Kazakh rider who was suspended for doping 3 years ago at the 2007 Tour de France. He was completely unrepentant, and now most of the professional peloton and fans alike hate his guts. Now that he has actually won something of prominence, it raises the question "Is he back on the juice?" I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt until something is actually proven, but I would not be surprised at all if a positive test pops up somewhere in the next couple of months. If not, well then, Congratulations Vino, good ride.

President Obama

There seems to be a great deal of hateful feelings and attitudes directed at our Commander in Chief recently. The aggravation claims to be stemming from health care reform, or whatever other policy he is thinking about enacting, but I think that it is just an excuse for some people to launch against him in their own personal crusade. I don't agree with everything that Mr. Obama is doing and plans to do, but I do need to get one thing straight. All politics aside, whether we like it or not, this man is in charge of the entire nation. I don't think that we necessarily have to like him on a personal level, and certainly should there be political opposition, but regardless of both of these things, he is our President. Bottom line. He deserves our respect and support as citizens of the United States. When Mr. Bush was President, I didn't agree with all of his policies either, but anytime people would begin to bash him, I was glad to defend him, and likewise with Mr. Obama. He has the most stressful job on the planet. I know that both of them have done and will continue to do a better job than me, and besides, I don't think the Presidency is a job anybody truly wants. Especially not after actually understanding what all it entails. The office should be respected, no acceptions. To quote an unknown person, "The man on top of the mountain did not fall there." He is in the position he needs to be, and I think that personal issues need to be set aside if we are going to recover and flourish again as a country.