On my ride home tonight from work I saw something I wish I never saw. I could see two people on road bikes coming down the road. No big deal right…wrong! When I got into view of the two people I noticed the front guy was not wearing a shirt. He was in spandex, no shirt, did have a helmet, and the kicker...he had his hart rate monitor on. It was the worst sight I have ever seen on a road bike! After the encounter I was asking myself "does that guy actually think he looks good"? I hope I never see that as long as I live. They did wave….
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Shirtless Cyclist
On my ride home tonight from work I saw something I wish I never saw. I could see two people on road bikes coming down the road. No big deal right…wrong! When I got into view of the two people I noticed the front guy was not wearing a shirt. He was in spandex, no shirt, did have a helmet, and the kicker...he had his hart rate monitor on. It was the worst sight I have ever seen on a road bike! After the encounter I was asking myself "does that guy actually think he looks good"? I hope I never see that as long as I live. They did wave….
Friday, April 28, 2006
Gas This, Gas That.....
I’m setting here watching C-SPAN2 and they are talking about gas prices. Boy…you can tell how exciting my Friday nights are. I just want to take a minute here to vent a little about all of this gas stuff. Now being in the gas business for almost a year I have learned several things about this business. I listen to our congress members constantly question "Big Oils" profits. They are basically saying "Big Oil" is making too much money. There is one big problem I see with these types of slanders. Now keep in mind I’m not for "Big Oil" but there is more to this story then what’s being lead to believe.
First…China and India are using way more oil then ever before. I don’t remember the growth numbers in the last 10 years but it has put a lot more pressure on the oil companies to produce more oil.
Second…I hear congress going on and on about why wont the oil companies invest their profits in growth and build more refineries? Everything I have seen, read, or heard about this can be all fired back at our government. Not that I want to build oil fields in Alaska but what choice do we have? We complain that gas prices are to high but we do not want any oil fields in the US. We complain we depend too much on foreign oil but all the environmentalists crush any idea or development in the US. It’s a no win situation.
Third…If I hear we should all boycott Exxon one more time I think I’m going puke. What the hell is a boycott going to do but hurt the retailers. Let me give a little insight on gas pricing at the pumps. For you that live in California the numbers are probably pretty close to ours here in North Carolina. These are very general numbers but they get the point across.
The quick break down on what the retailer makes on a gallon of gas:
Example: Wholesale Gas Price $2.00 a gallon
Everyone who uses a credit card at the pump to pay for gas cost the retailer between 2% - 4% on every purchase. A $30 dollar fill up will cost the retailer about .09 cents.
Fuel charges can be as high a $200 dollars per load.
Federal taxes per gallon are about .29 cent
State taxes per gallon is about .15 cents
There is another tax and I cannot remember what they call it but it’s another .05 cents per gallon
After all of this we "the retailer" make around a whopping .02 cent a gallon profit. I know there are a few retailers that are in areas that can put the screws to consumers but those are a very small amount of retailers.
The oil companies are making about .08 - .10 cents a gallon profit according to different reports.
Do you see where the real problem is? If not let me give you a hint. Whenever you buy items in a store, go out to eat, stay at a hotel, and so on there is something all of these retails have to publish. How much you paid in taxes. The only place that it is actually illegal to do so is on gas sales. Out of the above gallon of gas sold the government makes the most money at almost .50 cents a gallon. To listen to congress go on and on about what the oil companies need to do and the thing about policing retailers is going in the wrong direction. How about if the government drops the taxes by half and we could get almost a .25 cent break in the price and the government would still by far make the most money on a gallon of gas. I also do not blame either party (Democrat or Republican)….I blame them all.
Let me add one more thing. When a retailer buys gas it's paid for up front. If the retailer buys gas today at $2.50 a gallon and gets 4000 gallons and let’s say their average sell per day is 600 gallons a day. You’re looking at roughly having about 5 days (because the pumps shut off at about 800 gallons) of fuel. Lets say tomorrow the price goes way down… your not going to see a change at the pump for at least 5 days or until the next load of gas comes in because the gas that’s in the ground at the store is already paid for at $2.50 a gallon. The retailer has to sell that gas at the correct price or they will lose their $%^. And in defense of the retailer…you don’t go into business to lose money. And remember were only talking about .02 cents a gallon profit. Not much room for error or price change for the retailer.
We have built a society that depends on oil. Yes we can make more hybrid cars, better city transportation, more car-pooling, and even better bike routs, but this is going to take time to build. Our country is so dependent on oil these changes are going to take sometime. I can’t help myself but want to blame a lot of this on Eisenhower and the interstate system. Instead of building more train routes we built more roads for cars, trucks, and so on.
Once again I’m not for "Big Oil" but the government needs to come clean and help us out. We need to build more refineries in US territories, work on other energy sources, and people need to start working together and not drive as much. I did hear they are putting more limits on Detroit and making them build cars, trucks, etc with better gas mileage, which will help in the future.
I obviously do not have the answers to make gas cheaper but I do know we need to point at some of the true problems...government!
One more tidbit…please do not by gas a Citgo because the Venezuelan president owns that company and he would love to blow the US out of the water. Every time you buy gas at Citgo you put money into his pockets.
Ok I’m going to bed…thanks for reading.
First…China and India are using way more oil then ever before. I don’t remember the growth numbers in the last 10 years but it has put a lot more pressure on the oil companies to produce more oil.
Second…I hear congress going on and on about why wont the oil companies invest their profits in growth and build more refineries? Everything I have seen, read, or heard about this can be all fired back at our government. Not that I want to build oil fields in Alaska but what choice do we have? We complain that gas prices are to high but we do not want any oil fields in the US. We complain we depend too much on foreign oil but all the environmentalists crush any idea or development in the US. It’s a no win situation.
Third…If I hear we should all boycott Exxon one more time I think I’m going puke. What the hell is a boycott going to do but hurt the retailers. Let me give a little insight on gas pricing at the pumps. For you that live in California the numbers are probably pretty close to ours here in North Carolina. These are very general numbers but they get the point across.
The quick break down on what the retailer makes on a gallon of gas:
Example: Wholesale Gas Price $2.00 a gallon
Everyone who uses a credit card at the pump to pay for gas cost the retailer between 2% - 4% on every purchase. A $30 dollar fill up will cost the retailer about .09 cents.
Fuel charges can be as high a $200 dollars per load.
Federal taxes per gallon are about .29 cent
State taxes per gallon is about .15 cents
There is another tax and I cannot remember what they call it but it’s another .05 cents per gallon
After all of this we "the retailer" make around a whopping .02 cent a gallon profit. I know there are a few retailers that are in areas that can put the screws to consumers but those are a very small amount of retailers.
The oil companies are making about .08 - .10 cents a gallon profit according to different reports.
Do you see where the real problem is? If not let me give you a hint. Whenever you buy items in a store, go out to eat, stay at a hotel, and so on there is something all of these retails have to publish. How much you paid in taxes. The only place that it is actually illegal to do so is on gas sales. Out of the above gallon of gas sold the government makes the most money at almost .50 cents a gallon. To listen to congress go on and on about what the oil companies need to do and the thing about policing retailers is going in the wrong direction. How about if the government drops the taxes by half and we could get almost a .25 cent break in the price and the government would still by far make the most money on a gallon of gas. I also do not blame either party (Democrat or Republican)….I blame them all.
Let me add one more thing. When a retailer buys gas it's paid for up front. If the retailer buys gas today at $2.50 a gallon and gets 4000 gallons and let’s say their average sell per day is 600 gallons a day. You’re looking at roughly having about 5 days (because the pumps shut off at about 800 gallons) of fuel. Lets say tomorrow the price goes way down… your not going to see a change at the pump for at least 5 days or until the next load of gas comes in because the gas that’s in the ground at the store is already paid for at $2.50 a gallon. The retailer has to sell that gas at the correct price or they will lose their $%^. And in defense of the retailer…you don’t go into business to lose money. And remember were only talking about .02 cents a gallon profit. Not much room for error or price change for the retailer.
We have built a society that depends on oil. Yes we can make more hybrid cars, better city transportation, more car-pooling, and even better bike routs, but this is going to take time to build. Our country is so dependent on oil these changes are going to take sometime. I can’t help myself but want to blame a lot of this on Eisenhower and the interstate system. Instead of building more train routes we built more roads for cars, trucks, and so on.
Once again I’m not for "Big Oil" but the government needs to come clean and help us out. We need to build more refineries in US territories, work on other energy sources, and people need to start working together and not drive as much. I did hear they are putting more limits on Detroit and making them build cars, trucks, etc with better gas mileage, which will help in the future.
I obviously do not have the answers to make gas cheaper but I do know we need to point at some of the true problems...government!
One more tidbit…please do not by gas a Citgo because the Venezuelan president owns that company and he would love to blow the US out of the water. Every time you buy gas at Citgo you put money into his pockets.
Ok I’m going to bed…thanks for reading.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Monday, April 03, 2006
The Flowers Are Blooming
When we got home from our trip to Newland on Sunday there were a lot of flowers blooming. Paige enjoys the flowers and it’s so funny watching her get so serious. A great evening to finish off a great weekend.
She loves her shades
She loves her shadesDinner in Blowing Rock, NC
After hanging out in Boone we decided to take the short drive (9miles) over to Blowing Rock. It’s a really nice small town right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Lyn was on a mission for a windsock that can handle at least a 30mph wind. In Asheville during the winter we get some pretty strong wind and every windsock Lyn has bought has blown away. You ask…a windsock big deal. Well…Paige loves windsocks so we will do everything we can and spend whatever money to get a good one.
After Lyn found the perfect windsock we decided it was time for an early dinner. We went to this nice place a few blocks off downtown. For some reason Paige decided to start her screaming session. Not a mad scream but more on the lines of look at me scream. We thought…well I guess we will order the food to go unless we could convince the restaurant to open their porch a few weeks early. It's pretty amazing what a screaming child will do in getting your way. We had a great dinner on the porch and once Paige is outside she always smiles and enjoys herself. We are pretty fortunate all we have to do is take her outside to make her happy.
Weekend Trip To Newland, NC
I have been putting in a lot of hours at work and have not been around Lyn or Paige as much as I would like to be. So we figured we would hit the road after work on Friday and go to Lyn’s family cabin in Newland, NC for the weekend. Go to the mountain...get lost for a few days....sounds like a plan! Lyn and I trade off and did some good road riding and enjoyed some good dining in Blowing Rock. We decided to head over to Boone on Saturday to walk around and check it out. We found a little pub downtown that had a deck outside so we stopped in for a drink. Paige was being herself and funny as always.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
To Cool For School
When you’re this cool the sun shines on you 24 hours a day. What a ham! Only if I could be half as cool as my daughter.
Waving to her fans
Not happy about her contract with Universal
Who cares about the contract...Saturday, March 25, 2006
Thank God for Clown Dog
Paige got this bad virus and the doctor put her on a DeVilbiss. Paige has a hard enough time sitting still little alone trying to put this mask on her for 10 minutes. Thank God for clown dog. Throw some rabbit ears on him and Paige is entertained. Only one more day of treatments…
Single Speed Girls In Bent Creek
Is official…girls in bent creek are riding single speeds. Lyn just left the house with her friend for the first ride on her new single speed. Will see what she thinks when she gets back. Will she like it.... or say "take this thing apart"?
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
It's Alive!!!!!!
It’s official…Lyn has a single speed. Hopefully she can get out and ride it before the weekend. It’s a pretty sweet bike! It’s about 10:40pm and it’s past this old man’s bedtime. I’m out of here.
Sole mates…
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Tomorrow The SSP Will Be Alive
Tomorrow I will have the BB, tires, and chain, which will complete the build. This is going to turn out to be a sweet little single speed. Lyn is pretty excited about the bike. I cannot wait to be riding with girls on single speeds. Watch out boys…the girls are moving in!
Please excuse my unorganized bench. It’s usually does not look this bad.
Please excuse my unorganized bench. It’s usually does not look this bad.
Doctor…I think I’m getting a pulse
It will be alive tomorrow!Sunday, March 19, 2006
Girls on Single Speeds
They have been building a new trail in the back yard. The Forest Service hired a professional trail building company to do the work. It took 5 or 6 guys about 4 weeks to complete the trail. All I can say is WOW!!!!! I have ridden trails all of the US and this one ranks up there with some of the best. This is going to be one of those trails a lot of people could possible get hurt on. It’s not technical but it’s extremely fast and is like a giant BMX track that goes down hill. Absolutely amazing! I was going to take some photos today but I could not get myself to stop.
Yesterday Lyn and her girlfriends went out for a ride. Lyn and another girl she rides with have been talking about putting together single speeds. Well…Saturday Lyn’s friend showed up for the ride on her newly built single speed. Girls on single speeds…you have got to love it. Lyn road it for a little bit and liked it. Below is a photo of her old Ritchey starting the conversion process. I only need a few small things and she will be good to go.
Yesterday Lyn and her girlfriends went out for a ride. Lyn and another girl she rides with have been talking about putting together single speeds. Well…Saturday Lyn’s friend showed up for the ride on her newly built single speed. Girls on single speeds…you have got to love it. Lyn road it for a little bit and liked it. Below is a photo of her old Ritchey starting the conversion process. I only need a few small things and she will be good to go.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Paiges Best Friend "The Russ Man"
One of my friends called Russell "Clown Dog". The nickname was perfect! Look at him... how can you not love Russell? Paige and Russell hang together all the time. If Paige is not happy all we have to do is bring the Clown Dog into the room and she starts smiling. I’ll have to get a saddle made for him so she can ride him.
Reaching For The Camera
Paige loves the camera. Anytime we put the camera or video recorder on her she starts smiling and showing off. Social butterfly??? If so it's because of her mommy, and that means we will have our hands full.
Paige Loves Her Cup
Paige loves to drink out of her cup. She is crazy when it comes to dinnertime. There is nothing she will not eat. As you can see she is far from malnourished. The unstoppable eater!
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Another Warm Day In NC
This is the third day it’s been 70 plus degrees. It’s amazing how fast the flowers and trees start blooming. Our plum tree in the back yard this morning had a few little buds and by this afternoon at about 6pm it was a total different tree. Paige really enjoyed the pretty pink flowers on the tree.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
What's in your trunk?????
Last weekend Lyn had a continuing education class on Sunday in Johnson City so we decided to head over Saturday morning to hang out with friends and family. We dropped Paige off with Lyn’s mom Saturday morning and headed to the salon for some tender loving care. Lyn got a facial and I got an hour massage. It was awesome! So after the pampering I hocked up with some friends and did a mountain bike ride at Buffalo Mountain. Lyn went with her mother and did some shopping for Paige. This is where it gets funny. For those of you that know Lyn, she sometimes can be klutzy. Well I think this tops all of here moves. She is in a store doing some shopping, which I might add is not her favorite thing to do, and leans back on this ottoman. Well…she leans back a little to far and over she goes into a clothing rack. I don’t know about you but I have never fallen on a clothes rack before, but after seeing the mark it left on Lyn I hope I never do. Check out the photo below and remember…shopping can be dangerous too.
Lyn's bruise on her rump from the clothing rack
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