People often ask me why I don't drink or partake of any other substance that many others often do. My usual response is some sort of flippant quip. But now, dear readers, I bring you the real reasons! That's right! It's time for my origin story! My parents were both alcoholics and junkies. My father even had a drug lab in his mother's garage at one point. He would often beat my mother. Until one day she hit him back, thus earning her the nick name 'Thumper'. They split up shortly thereafter. I was about two years old. After that neither one of them were involved in my life very much. My grandparents on my mom's side took care of me while my parents were doing who knows what. I grew up in the projects and trailer parks of the Bay Area. I saw my mother maybe once every couple of weeks. Even at a young age I knew I wanted no part of the life my parents had become involved with. I saw my second cousins become drug runners for their own mom, who ended up getting shot by a rival drug dealer.  When my mother did finally sober up for a short period it was only because she stole drugs from the wrong person and they threatened to cut off her hand. As I grew older my convictions just grew stronger. I saw any involvement with drugs and alcohol as a waste. A waste of life, time, and money. I have much better things to do and enough problems. I don't need to add anymore complications or drama to my life. And it all is so illogical. People still try to get me to go out and drink or whatever, to 'take the edge off'. Well, guess what? I DON'T NEED TO. All that stuff is just a crutch to avoid the truth. And I would rather face the truth head on.Then there's all the health reasons as well. Long term drug and alcohol usage will do horrible things to your body. I have worked too damn hard to get to the point where I am now just for so called 'fun'. Now is usually the point when people start arguing their side of how great it can be to go party. Save it, believe me, I've heard it all before and I'm not buying the hype.

     Onto a different more gleeful topic! It's been another week of Bike Month and I've taken some great rides. I at long last got up to Auburn to ride some of the trails I have been hearing so much about. The ride started by going under the Forest Hill Bridge and along the North Fork of the American River and climbing up above Lake Clementine. I rode through a small forest of madrones, around a foothill meadow, and finally descended back down toward the Middle Fork. There were some great technical features along the trail as well. Another recent ride that stands out this week was what is normally just part of my commute. I was almost home when I saw lightening and then about a minute later heard the distant sound of thunder. This continued until I was about a half mile from home and it began to rain. Just as I reached my door the thunder increased in volume, rumbling for over an hour straight with no pauses, lightening frequently lashing out. It was truly awesome.  I rode another half century this week as well, from my place to River Bend Park and around Lake Natoma. So far for the month I am at little over 430 miles!

     As my debt quest continues I am still examining my financial habits and eating away at what I owe. I am feeling a little more steady as I try to gain that precarious balance between losing my sanity by moving too quickly and being able to actually enjoy my life. I am seeing some results though from all my recent efforts. I have leveled up once more! That now makes me level five!

     As the blog post for this week winds down, I am sure everyone can guess what time it is. That magical time, once a week, when you get to see a picture of your beloved blogger basking in his own opulence! That's right! The selfie of the week! This one was taken at an overlook above Lake Clementine, which can be seen in the background, but is obviously overshadowed by my own magnificence.

Selfie #20

     Until next time my valued readers, remember to actually experience all these great moments because