Date: 2008-05-18 12:22 Subject: Bicycles and Money Laundering Security: Public Mood: annoyed Music: The Doors - L.A. Woman

The good news: I went out and bought a new bike yesterday! After doing a little research, I came up with an affordable option that was designed for the type of riding I like to do. The Giant FCR3. I had always been a Trek guy when it came to straight mountain bikes, but after seeing the Giant up close and finding some great customer reviews about it online, I was pretty close to switching. What sealed the deal for me was the call I placed to my local Trek dealer who, despite not even selling the FCR3, said that component for component and in general construction that the FCR3 was almost identical to the Trek 7300. He went on to say that the Giant was a great hybrid bike and that he's heard nothing but good things about it. When a salesman pitches me on a product he doesn't even sell, then I think I can be pretty confident that he's being honest. I wasn't really looking to shell out $500 at this point (even if that is modest for a new bike), but I figure the money I'll save not smoking (at $4.50-$5.00 per pack per day) should pay for it over the course of a couple months. Now I'm just waiting on them to build it. Hopefully it will be ready today. Renting bikes is one thing, but riding your own, and having it fit for you specifically is another. I can't wait to take it out for a few miles.

The bad news: I get busted for money laundering, only instead of getting 10-20 in the federal pen, I get to try to salvage my wallet and its contents from the washing machine. Apparently I should take time to wake up in the morning before I start taking care of my to do list. The damage wasn't too bad, but it ruined a couple of pictures that I had (which I am pretty pissed about). The remaining contents are all spread out on my back patio as I type this; drying in the sun. Everything is just neatly lined out in rows: wallet, money, social security card, pics that I could save, etc. It looks like some CSI autopsy of how I murdered my own belongings. At least it wasn't my phone.