as part of my new leaf springtime borderline agenda i went to the doctor as i’ve said and got myself hooked up with some medicine. i didnt go to the chinese doctor as my friend kai suggested not because i dont think he is right, but because it’s simply much easier going through this clinic for a few reasons. so its western medicine this time and at least this time and at least so far i have to say i’m so very happy that it seems to be working already and i almost feel normal, or like most people, who aren’t constantly trying to keep their stomach in and down at almost all times of day. especially after eating anything acidic, or getting stressed out. i can’t tell you how this makes me feel. its so liberating. i’ve even slept through a whole night, i think (maybe a couple?) without having to sit up. ah, the things we can take for granted. (well, we can take everything for granted! and do) it’s basically like hiccuping that never ever ended. its stress, its physical energy expended, its disruption of the esophagus and breathing process. its a constant thing that happens to your body and never leaves you alone. and sometimes it hurts too. i think i got used to that burn. but i never got used to the constant interruptions. now…i feel so much more…still. i’m not constantly spitting fire. its a beautiful thing. i’ts not fully resolved, but its only been a week. and my body is more at peace than it has been since 2003.
i also decided to lay down almost $400 at the lab and have various blood work done of the sort where you hope for negative results and i’m happy to say i got my money’s worth, though i’m sure glad they take payments. i guess that’s what some peace(s) of mind cost. never took most of these tests, but as the son of a woman who is director of public health and past infection control nurse, i felt i ought to for years. so, again, as part of my springtime draw a blooming line agenda, i ran the full gamut and bit the bullet and anyway its just good to know the deal for sure. so now i do.
in other news, i’ve replaced the tires on my bike. which means no more badass knobbies! i ‘m sad about this. i really enjoyed those knobbies and i’m not sure about this change. the bike guy was really happy. he earnestly was passing on his own experience, which is why he advised me to do this. that’s the third guy who talked to me about this, and the third who advised it. but i dont know. the first guy was worried about his weight. he thought he already had enough drag and didnt want more. okay, i get that. but i dont have that worry. so i was like “okay, i’ll keep the knobbies.” so the next guy is all like technical with “these have thicker walls but these other ones have—” well i’m not sure what the other ones had…i got very distracted right about the time he said “thicker walls” but he was cool, he helped me see that these were two different tires entirely, the street tire and the trail tire. made differently with different strengths, etc. not just knobbies/not-knobbies.
the third guy was like “wow you’ll feel so much faster, like riding a whole new bike” and that pretty much grabbed me because lately something has been dragging on me as i ride and i use this bike like a car. its my way to get anywhere. and i use it every day. so i feel this drag happening and i’m saying “okay, just pump harder!” and i don’t mind because i think its just work to be done. my thighs burn up and i just get more toned and harder every day. thats a huge plus of this bike thing. no more guilt on myself for sitting around and getting soft. no sirree maam. its a real work out. but it wasn’t just that, it was something rubbing or dragging on the wheel, turned out to be the brake. dude also tightened up my spokes, very cool.
but i’m really not sure about these thinner, smaller road tires! sure they look sporty. and i guess they are “armadillos” the “best tire in the world/cosmos/town/stockroom/store” etc etc. (i was like ”give me the ones with the red stripe”) i’ll see how they fare on the trip to luna y paloma. maybe they will make it a lost easier. its a hell of a hill and some bad asphalt. if so, its worth it. but they throw off the visual aesthetics something fierce. now my fender looks too big, so i took it off. my seat threatens to overwhelm the balance, but i love that seat and its new and comfortable so it stays. its just a whole nother bike and oh i dont know who you are anymore, GT! i also kind of liked having the traction at the ready. now, i cant zip up that supersteep little hill at the edge of my parking lot, on the mulch. i just knife into it. spin and look sort of idiotic. eh, looking idiotic has never stopped me before and maybe i’ll grow to love them. if not, i’m replacing them with the knobbies.