Remember the "Where the Hell is Matt" video?  Well, I stumbled upon another travel Youtube clip.  I was initially more interested in the background music and then got hooked on the slideshow:

 

 

 

It's not quite as good as Matt's video but it was very entertaining and it had that special something that drew me in and held my attention.  I favorited it!

 

 

Everyone who knows me is aware that my instrument of choice is the guitar!  And while I was browsing the YouTube scene I stumbled upon these great guitar playing rockers.  Check them out!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enough said!

 

 

 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone!!  I'm not Irish, but I don't think you have to be to appreciate the celebration. 

 

 

Last night I had the most bizarre dream, most likely influenced by the planning stages of my trip to Italy in the fall.  My plans include a week in beautiful Venice and then training over to Lake Como where I will leisurely visit all the lake towns and even venture on day trips to Bergamo & Switzerland. 

 

In my dream I was traveling (I’m not even sure if I was driving or riding on a train) around when we got close to these dramatic looking snow covered mountains.  They were jagged edged (so it was probably the Dolomites) and I remembered looking at them in complete awe!  Everything was in slow motion (why, I’m not sure) and as we got closer, the mountains looked even more awesome to me. 

 

I’m not sure what this dream means.  Earlier in my planning stages I was contemplating visiting Venice and then maybe the Dolomites!  But then I became influenced by outside forces to visit Lake Como!  Am I wrong?  Not sure!

 

Dreaming of Italy can sometimes do some crazy head trips.  Now, I’m thinking about my decision.  It's not like I have ruled out visiting the Dolomites in the future, so why the heck was I dreaming about it.  Oh, who knows . . . . for all I know it could mean nothing!

 

I think I’ll go do my run now and forget about it . . . or can I?

 

 

Now, I'm not one who scares easy.  Well, okay . . .climbing up the half dome at Yosemite was probably the most that I have been afraid. Today, I decided to ride in the simple 20 mile Los Angeles Acura Bike Tour.  It's been a couple of years since I have done this ride and I've always enjoyed riding through the various neighborhoods in Los Angeles.  It should've been easy!  But it wasn't!

 

There were 16,000+ cyclists riding on the streets of Los Angeles at the same time.  Between the mix of average and reckless cyclists and the many pot holes I  encountered on the course, this very easy 20 mile ride was an almost death defying experience for me.  I remember zipping down 2-3 hills and feeling so afraid that I would run my wheels smack dab into a pot hole, tumble and cause a major crash.  I had near collisions with cyclists stopping right in front of me and other cylists not keeping their line and cutting right in front of me with no warning.  Other cylists were not so lucky.  I must have seen nearly 10 downed riders on the course. I think they called the paremedics for one guy who was hurt really bad.

 

The whole experience was terrifying.  I think there was only one point during the ride where I took the time to watch the City's skyline and that was when I stopped briefly to remove my jacket.  

 

Needless to say, unless they improve the course here in LA I will most likely not be riding again next year.  I would just assume hang from the cables at the Yosemite Half Dome, thank you!