Bay Area Chill

Young Willis, getting ready to devour a bowl of FRUIT! Yes! That's what your vegan uncle wnats to hear and see!

He is an attention grabber isn't he!

Did you know, that in 10 days, I'll be 26 years old!!!! GOOD LAAAWD!!!

What a cutie and making a mess no less! A wonderful [some might say] Tellez famly trait! The force is strong in this one...

Somehow, I wish this blog post was about the chill lifestyle that I'm currently enjoying in the Bay Area. Somehow, I want to express the small amount of joy I derive from eating chocolate soy pudding and downing it all with a nice Vegan protein shake with BCAA's. Somehow, I believe it really isn't butter.

BUT ANYWAYS!

This is really about the frigid cold that has totally engulfed the Bay Area. What do I mean by frigid cold? Well, let's not get our panties in a wad...afterall, I did spend my college years freezing my okoke off at Brown and the LSE. At least one of them had better food. I'll let you judge which one that is though! ;-) Here's a hint..it's not coffee milk and noodle bar at the Ratty either.

It is so damn cold that in the AM, I cant use my wind shiled wiper as there is frost that has accumulated from the night before. It is so damn cold, I dont even want to ride my bike for fear of frost bite! AND THAT'S WITH BOOTIES and a JACKET. Yikes! Instead, I've decided to take up for the moment the sport of competitive eating and enjoying some wonderful family time and R&R. I've especially enjoyed my nephew, young William. His delight for sticking all things edible [and non-edible] in his mouth is truly hilarious and amazingly cute. The honesty he gives when he eats something sour or bitter is priceless! And, as with all Tellez men, he makes a mess of himself when he eats! That's the dead give away that he's a Tellez kinda man.

This thanksgiving marks year number two that I have gone without Turkey or any form of meat by the way.

Also this November marks one year and 2 months since I have been cycling. My oh my, what a life changer! Cheers [with Vegan wine] to more success and years to come!

Ugh...it's definitely the off-season now in the Bay

So much so, I might have to put on the gloves when I go cycling. Wait. That's even IF I get a chance to go cycling. Right about now, it gets dark around 5:30pm which is no bueno and even more so if you're used to cycling.

As far as training goes...well, helllllooooooo indoor trainer until March! Ouch! Thankfully, I can get in some decent 53 x 11 riding in if ya know what I mean. That, and I can continue my total binge of all juicy fruits in season right now which are: peaches, pears and kiwis. I swear I devoured 6 kiwi AFTER an enormous green smoothie one night. In the words of Dave Chappelle: "cant stop...wont stop..."

Like the new background? I was getting tired of the green one..I think I did it because us weegans are green like that and it seemed appropriate. I like this one with the big mountain because I like climbing those bad mama-jamas on my bike so I figured why not.

Now that the silliness that is known as MLB is done for we can concentrate on the more pressing matters at hand: Jerry Brown whopping Meg 'Lying' Whitman for Gov. of California, the Oakland Raiders's sudden 3-game win-streak, NBA hoops and the serious business of holiday cheer in the form VEGAN EGG NOG. Oh how I like Xmas. :-)

5+ Hours in the Saddle = Whole 'Lotta Chips 'n Salsa!

If you live in the Bay Area and you tried to cycle outside on Sunday you'd find it awfully rainy and miserable. So you're thinking 'well Alex, that sounds right up your alley right?!' Wrong. It was so bad my any-excuse-to-get-out-and-ride played it safe. Now that's pretty eipc no? Thankfully, there was Saturday and what better way to get back into the swing of things then killing myself with 5+ hours in the saddle. Ugh...the final 20 mins I was dying to push 250 watts...yes, it was THAT bad! hahah! But maaaan, that post-ride recovery drink never tasted so good...not to mention the vegan pizza I had that night at Fellinis. Go Me.

Going the last big climb, AKA PineHurst Road [steep steep sections] I was even passed by some triathletes! gasp! They had that 'yea-I-havent-been-in-the-saddle-for-+5-hours' look as they were still smiling and what not. Heh...we'll show em! Embarassing nonetheless, but it's the silly season and training within a prescribed power is okay right? Right? Or maybe I should strap the shoes back on and show em how it's done. :-)

In other wonderful news, the Oakland Raiders beat the KC Cheifs in OT yesterday. Our first 3 game win streak! Amazing right!? Did you know, the last time the Raiders won 3 in a row was in 2002~! I was 18 and a freshmen at Brown! Dios mio! And on that note, my green smoothie calls out to me. tonite's recipe for disaster: Spinach, bananas, blueberries, pears and some raw-nola. Maybe some chips 'n salsa too...ya never know with us silly weegans!

So much for the offseason!

Well, I had had it.
7 days of lolly-gagging, binge eating, dilly-dallying and tomfoolery all added up to one thing: giddiness

Giddiness to get on the bike and burn a truck-load of calories..
Giddiness to get back into my usual skinny self [essentially, shed the +12 lbs] I put on!
Giddiness to feel the burning sensation I get in my legs when lactic acid is free flowing..
...and just the overall sensation of being back on a bike after my 7 day break.

Of course, I'm starting off slow and easy...small ringing...for now! I want to get in some good rides over the next few weeks before the weather becomes REAL SHIT [right now it's just 'shit' in the Bay Area].

One other point worth mentioning: The RAIDERS have won 2 games straight! Over the last two games, they have outscored their opponents by over 30 points! Yikes!

In other...very less important news...I hear the SF Giants won the world series. Hooray. Looking at the 49ers this year, that's probably a good thing.

Gnite Canada!