8/7/2007

I’m not exactly inspired to be writing this blog today, but hey, it’s been a while since the last post, so I’ll give it a shot. So then, what is new with the Trip of a Lifetime? Got another 50 mile day on the bike in two days ago. I was actually very surprised at just how hilly western Nebraska actually is. When we were planning this trip, and then talking about it at the start, in my head I saw mile upon mile of flat cornfields, as far as the eye could see. To this point at least, it hasn’t happened that way. It has been more high desert (we’re actually traveling through the Sandhills), and now we’re getting into a more moist climate, but it is still a hilly area, just more green and less sandy. I guess what I’m saying is why is the U of Nebraska’s nickname the cornhusker’s? I saw a whole lot more of the stuff in Iowa. This trip has been very enlightening, clearly.

The insects are one of the things that have been getting to all of us lately. First of all, they have grasshoppers the size of small frogs out here. No shit, as I was biking, they would be jumping into me, trying to knock me from the bike, or just going peacefully under my tires. Apparently it isn’t just the people they grow bigger out here, but the insects to. Also, due to all the cows, there is, simply put, a lot of cow shit around. This has grown quite a large amount of flies, which apparently get tired of the shit, and have recently decided to come and annoy us. There doesn’t seem to be a moment when we don’t have a few in the car with us. And that doesn’t even include the places that we are staying. One motel we stayed in recently had dozens of flies, all anxious to pester after having been locked in the room for who knows how long. Exhausted though we were, we had to go on a killing spree and take care of the bastards, because keeping to ourselves just didn’t seem to work. A TV channel guide and one Sports Illustrated later (literally had to leave it there, it was covered in dead bug juice), we were able to sleep. On top of that, the lady working the front desk was a royal pain in the ass to both Dad and Matt. I really wish I had the name of this motel in Alliance, Nebraska so should any strange circumstance which brings you there, you can avoid it, but even the name was so poor, it doesn’t come to mind, so I guess I would recommend just staying away from the whole town in general.

Other than that, there are just a few sports related things to harp on. First of all, I recently got to check my fantasy baseball leagues, and due to my inability to rotate my pitchers, and get the resultant stats, I have fallen out of first in my keeper league (which I had a 15 point lead in before leaving) to second, and from second in my ESPN league to third. Now in the ESPN league, it wasn’t as if I had any chance of really catching up to 1st place, but I was still hoping to snag the second spot. But in the other league, with my huge lead, I thought I would be safe even without internet access. I guess this means its going to be even more important to come back in September to get back my lead, and behind my 5 closers, I hope to be able to get my pitching back on track. I’m not bitter at all about this trip costing me bragging rights. At all. Other than that, its just a matter of preseason football starting up, meaning I’m getting more and more psyched for Pats season. This is going to be a great fall.