Friday, August 16, 2013

Taking a Break to Enjoy Tucson!

More Street Car Tracks in Downtown!

All the Palm Trees on the Main Mall 

Le Tigre!

Bear Down Gym

My Old School is still a Good School...

Old Main getting some attention, built 1888

1921 Original University of Arizona Library, now a museum

Main Gate, University Ave

University Avenue, and Street Car Tracks!

Many Good Times here with my Friends


Most Excellent Coffee, and on the Bike Path

Le Tigre 

Thursday, August 08, 2013

Haunts

Big Sexy has bar end shift levers
 I'm in Tucson for the unpleasant business of evicting my piece of shit renter from my house up in Dog Mtn.  I drove down from Kansas with Little Egypt - we filed an action - and I went to court and got a judgement against him/them.  It was and has been pretty stressful, Readers of This Blog.  Little E flew back, leaving me to complete the process - which was basically wait almost nine days for court.  The Tenant never really thought we would arrive in Tucson, and right away, as always, he was making excuses and stalling for time to get the money he owed for rent.  He had run out lies -grandma's funeral, colon cancer, had to fly out of town, everything.

If you were to visit, you'd see very expensive Big Screen TVs in every room, expensive furniture, expensive cars and trucks... he lived well beyond what he could afford.  I believe slowly, his world began to come apart -- and being served an eviction notice and a court date was quite a reality check.

With only 24 hours left to file for a dismissal, after agreeing to meet me to discuss terms : he pay cash for two months rent then leave at the end of the month - we were going to meet at 3 pm.  At 3 pm, after I arrived at my house to find nobody there, I sent said piece of shit a text saying "Where are you?"  his reply, "Just leaving, and en route..." That, Gentle Readers, really pissed me off.  I waited for 15 minutes and was leaving when he rolled up in his very expensive hot rod car.  You would think something this important, a way not to go to court, you would show up on time.  I was not happy and let him know so - he told me he was held up by a train - this was yet another lie, and the lie that broke the camel's back.

I laid out our terms - and from talking to him, I knew he didn't have, and wouldn't have the money.  So there would be no deal.  We would be in court.  He ran after me down the street begging me to stop - it was pathetic.

Our renter told me several times, hey it's not like I'm five months late!  He never, and still does not think he's done anything wrong.

I was at the court on time - he never showed up.  So he, and his girlfriend have a pretty large judgement against them - three months rent due, late fees (500 dollars) and court costs.  His now ex-girlfriend signed the lease but she ignored all our emails and 5 day notices about getting evicted.  Just ignoring us will not bode well for her, mes amis.  She will have some sleepless nights when she discovers she will have her wages garnished and her credit rating ruined plus appearing in court.

Mt. Lemmon a.k.a. Mt. Indifference
I rolled around on my own, sans Le Tigre, down to a Starbucks to get a coffee.  I rode on Moore Rd and through Rancho Vistoso, and at the cafe, found myself in a familiar haunt - but surrounded by French tourists.  One guy had an iPad and was filming and narrating the scene - which I have to say, was quite beautiful with Pusch Ridge in the background.  Further back, Mt Lemmon and the Catalinas.  Rain threatened but I just enjoyed my hot espresso, the French language flowing around the tables, and some sort of piece of mind. 

I rode Big Sexy back to Dog Mtn, as I have done hundreds of times, but I had to mostly ride in the drops to keep the gears in place.  

Once the climbing was done to the crest of the foothills of the Tortollitas, I sailed back to Dog Mtn on Big Sexy and then to my friend's place where I'm camped out. 

Slowly, the stress of the eviction is is waning, and I feel like a local cyclist again!  

Cheers!  Bruce

Rocking Bar End Ranch Ride


I came down to Tucson for to do some business - drove down and along with other stuff like tools and computers and printers - I brought a bike to ride (if time allowed) and here I am a few days ago out with my Old School Chum, Le Tigre!


If you were in Tucson visiting yourself, and riding up around the Catalina Foothills, you'd see many Cats on Bikes (Blokes on Bikes as well) zipping here and there.  This is where my friend Ryan Lives to Ride and Rides to Live, Gentle Readers of This Blog!  I follow him on his favorite rides this beautiful Sunday Morning in Tucson!


I drive to the YMCA, my old starting point for communing to work back in the day, and then I ride down to meet Le Tigre somewhere on the bike path.  It's right at 6 am and Tucson seems deserted - there's no traffic - just Monsoon rain clouds rolling over at a slow trot.

River Bike Path expanding 
 The Monsoons are in full swing - that's good because although it was cool - it was still a hilly ride and the sun, once the rain clouds move over the sleeping neighborhoods - take back the day with a vengeance! I meet up with Le Tigre pretty quick.


We waste no time rolling out to River Rd.  Much faster than the bike path now, as the runners and walkers are out for their workouts.  Le Tigre - is fit and strong - typical Tucson cyclist.  We were in school together back in the day, and his first job landed in our profession, he ending up doing well - he can work from home and then travels a bit - mainly to curate, buy for a wealthy collector who shall remain unknown to you, Gentle Reader, works of art, rare books, aircraft, artifacts, and rare curiosities.  L T is that individual's personal Librarian - if said individual had an obsession with Soviet Era MIG fighter jets for example, Le Tigere's job would be to track down and acquire for purchase that airplane - arrange for its shipment to rich guy's secret headquarters - set up restoration - then arrange and hire the top Russian Air Force fighter pilot to come to the USA and teach super rich guy to fly it. The job is bizarre and the stories Le Tigre tells me about the length and money spent to acquire shit like that is funny and awesome!
.

We ride through areas around the Foothills, and then slip into the famous fat farm and celebrity de-tox resort of Canyon Ranch.  Sir Paul has a house there, and really besides being a rehab, you can buy a house there - but you got to be rich and you got to be somebody.  

We ride up to Sabino Canyon - a very beautiful place to hike and walk, and we get some water.  I'm feeling sluggish as I had driven cross-country from Kansas to Arizona. Also, I'm here in Tucson to evict the piece of shit tenant in my house up in Dog Mtn. but the stress of all that is falling away as I'm on the bike and on the roads I know so well.


I had enough room to pack Big Sexy - not the best road bike, but one I can leave here in Tucson and ride around when I'm in town.  When I got into town I took the bike to a new and local shop near Dog Mtn and they put on a set of bar end shifters, and replaced the old crappy handle bar shifters.  Well, mes amis, the bar end levers didn't work much better - in fact worse - so it was a bit frustrating to ride with the gears shifting on their own.  I had to ride in the drops and hold the gears in place.  Really I don't think the guys at this shop really knew what they were doing.  I should have driven across town and had Phil and Judy do the job.  I'll take the bike back to that shop and see if they can adjust them


As always, good to see Le Tigre! I'm try to get out and ride some more, and post when I can!  Cheers!  Bruce