Summer of Dan

It really does begin now

In a little over 6 months, I'll be riding over 100 miles sometimes or close to 100 miles each day for 5 days in order to raise money to help fund an AIDS/HIV Vaccine. 100% of the funds that we raise go directly towards Emory University and UCLA AIDS Institute. Not a portion, 100%.

I've crewed the last 3 years, I love every minute of my week with my August Family but this is the first time I'll be riding. New England is well known for it's incredibly hilly terrain. The first day ends with a hellish 4+ mile climb up A MOUNTAIN, with over 2500 feet of elevation gain in that short climb. Most people don't make it up there by way of bicycle but I'll give it my best shot if I'm not dead before I hit the bottom of that hill.

Unless I'm already late for dinner.

I'm going to be doing all sorts of things to raise money over the next 6 months. I'll raffle off a Taco Tuesday night with me where you can stuff your face with tacos, chat, and read for 3+ hours at my favorite table. I'll be raffling off a day with my sister and I. If you know the both of us you know this is already a worthy investment. I may even raffle off a day at IKEA with myself and my grandmother. Even if you know nothing about my Nana, she is the bees knees and a guaranteed good time. Other things will be raffled and auctioned off so stay tuned!

Some questions you may ask yourself: 

Where can I donate? On my fundraising page

Can you write off donations? Yes. The info is on the Charity Treks site.

Is any donation too small? HELL NO. I'm riding regardless of what I raise, and realize times are tough for everyone right now. 

Does Dan belong on a bike? I'm not sure. But I'm going to find out.

Will he live blog his adventures? Maybe, it depends. There will be video diaries and other fun things for sure, and maybe some surprises along the way.

What will I do about missing Taco Tuesday? I missed it last year, it was tough, but I have something in store for the Tuesday I ride.

Is Dan going to cry? Most definitely. Multiple times. Each day.

Will it be awesome? Of course, that week in August always is.

Effects of Agent Orange ‘ongoing silently’ in children – CNN Photos - CNN.com Blogs

I've read novels and historical pieces on Vietnam and the behind the scenes politics about it and how veterans were treated when they came home. I've read about horrific injuries to troops and I've only read about the affects of Agent Orange. I've never actually seen it until now.

War may be hell, but it doesn't have to be this.

Read more about Agent Orange here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange

And the missions using it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ranch_Hand

It's completely awful, but that doesn't mean we need to pretend it never happened.

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CC

I'm 89 years old, what the fuck kind of plans would I have?

I'm sick as a dog. I can't stop coughing. It's cold as hell outside. I need some cheese with this wine.

Things that have become abundantly clear to me while being sick:

• I have a huge problem being sick and sitting in a messy room. I actually can't. I need to clean whatever is in front of me before I can watch whatever Blu-rays or Netflix I have picked out. I realize this may be slightly irregular. I am ok with that.
• I am really good at hydrating myself when I'm sick. That's the only time in my life I am good at hydrating. Except before a football game. The rest of my life I am a complete wreck.
• Lola really does sleep 23.5 hours a day and just wakes up to eat.
• The week after the AFC and NFC Championships is a really boring sports week.
• If you don't have good movies/shows to watch when you're sick you are doing life completely wrong.
• Cheesy zombie movies always make you feel better. Always.
  
  
• I'm proud of my wide tea selection, but I have a long way before I can touch my father's selection. I'm shocked he didn't already own the trademark Teavana.

I'm not one that gets sick all that often, I credit it to my diet of extra bacon and as much video gaming as possible during the week.

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXCIX

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXCVIII

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXCVII

Awesome Random Picture Friday - Part CXCVI

The greatest microwavable mac and cheese in a box known to man

I'm not going to beat around the bush here: I don't eat Lean Cuisines or Smart Ones, I don't eat boxed microwavable lunches ever.

UNLESS THIS AMAZING CHICK NAMED AMY MADE THEM.

 
Amy doesn't fuck around. All her stuff is organic, with no GMOs (those are Genetically Modified Organisms). If you aren't sure what GMOs are here is a very quick lesson: you know how farmers put pesticides and whatnot on crops so those little buggers don't get in them and mess up their crops? Well some scientists figured out a way to genetically modify those said crops so they grow their own pesticide inside. It keeps them from having to spray and all that hassle. So cool right?!?!?

WRONG. Because the person that gets the real fun is YOU!!! You get to ingest that and are they bad for you? Let's just say there are many studies that link GMOs to cancer, autism, and a whole lot of other stuff you don't want to get.

But I digress.

AMY IS A GODDESS. Seriously. This shit tastes like the tears of angels. I'm not worried about oil running out on planet earth, I'm worried about this stuff being extinct from shelves because it tastes so damn good.

I'm a huge mac and cheese guy. Nothing beats the homemade stuff, nothing beats baked mac and cheese. BUT THIS IS THE REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD. If you get it and don't like it, send me the tray it comes in and I'll eat the entire tray with the cheese remnants on it and I'll refund your money. And then I'll call you a liar because that is what you would be.

Please note there are gluten free options available for people that really have nothing to live for and have the whole celiac disease. I can't promise that is as good as this since it's made from rice but Jesus, if you're eating gluten free I'm sure it tastes like the greatest thing you've put in your mouth since you went to the Other Side.

Great music is great

I'm in love with Spotify.

There, I said it.

I'm not new to it, I've been using it since it was released, since the music industry first panicked and said it was the end of times and they were going to have it shut down. And then a funny thing happened.

It started making them money. Not truckloads, but at least suitcases full of it. They made it through ads here and there, by play counts, and by subscriptions. It's a solid business model: offer something great that has some caveats and offer it for free. But wait, there's so much more! If you pay a little of your hard earned cash they'll pony up an even better, higher quality product. NOW we're talking. Being able to make playlists from millions of songs, sharing them with people, taking them offline and to the gym with you, and constantly having a massive library of music? 

I haven't taken the plunge just yet to pay the $9.99 a month for it. I already pay for Pandora and I pay way too much for XM radio (which reminds me, I need to call and threaten to cancel so they'll drop the price of my subscription...), but I'm always toying with the idea. That's basically the price of a good cup of coffee every week.

But dammit I like coffee...