penny for a thought | Patrick on every & anything

Ok, so, unlike my previous post, this video isn’t for everyone, but I’m confident the majority of my readers will appreciate this re-mix of a classic Richard Simmons exercise video. Credit goes to a Portland-based creative who writes for a Portland-based juggernaut in the ad game.

There’s never a shortage of random videos–online–intended to make one laugh. Everyone has their own opinion of what’s funny or not, but here’s one I think anyone can appreciate. It’s a non-offensive, :30 TV ad a Portland, OR ad agency did for the Oregon Aquarium… Brilliant!

Wow! A nearly two-month blogging hiatus, how could I? I’ll tell you, it has actually been easy… Remember my last blogosphere disappearance when I joked about using illness as my excuse? Well, Karma got the best of me as soon after that statement a life altering (non-contagious) intestinal virus hit me like a home-run in the 9th inning, bases loaded.

Up until about a month ago I argued that I was invincible, or at least the healthiest human on Earth. Now I’m humbled and thrilled to be myself again. It’s a weird feeling to know something isn’t right, but have doctors and nurses tell you it’s just lil’ bug or indigestion… WRONG!

After three-weeks in Purgatory and countless hours explaining my symptoms, it took just 5-minutes on the phone with one of, in my opinion, OHSU’s/the World’s finest doctors to tell me what he thought was wrong. Two days, three blood tests and another less-pleasant test later and the doctor’s prognosis was confirmed, I had Giardia–a parasite which terrorizes the small intestine. Wait, that’s not all. This particular Giardia strain was so powerful it prevented my body from absorbing nutrients necessary to life (e.g. Iron and protein.) As a result I had become Anemic and protein deficient.

How did I contract such a parasite you ask. This is debatable, but I’m fairly certain I contracted Giardia while backpacking in Hawaii last fall. If you’re unfamiliar with Giardia, it’s a parasite humans can pick up from water contaminated with animal fickle… I know, I know… GROSS! Apparently Giradia can only be killed via boiling your water or by adding iodine to it; I did neither. Mario however used my water filter the whole time and did not contract the virus.

In the end what amazes me is that it took more than 4-months for the protozoa to come out of their dormitory state and wreak havoc on my body. Nonetheless, it’s good to be back and feel like myself again, just a few more days of uber-antibiotics and I”ll be “tip top.” Probably the hardest part of the whole ordeal was not being able to race or train well on my bicycle, not to mention family and friends thinking I’ve become lame. Oh yeah, explaining that Girardia is not a sexual transmitted disease was pretty hard too.

There’s my story. I look forward to getting back on the blogging bandwagon. Cheers!

-Patrick

Alright, so getting a free iPhone is near impossible; that is unless you win, find or steal one. However, it’s not difficult to get an iPhone for under a-hundred-bucks. It just takes some effort, not to mention a bit of questionable hustling. I did it and ended up paying roughly $60 for my iPhone just a few months after its release. Now, many of my friends have jumped the bandwagon; take dEcho for example, my pal who–just last week–paid next to nothing for his iPhone.

If you’re up for it here’s what you do:

1. Wait until your current cell-phone contract is up
2. Log onto Amazon.com and find a Blackberry Curve 8310 being offered through AT&T
3. Purchase the Blackberry Curve for the low price of FREE after rebates when you sign up or renew your 2-year contract
4. Wait a few days until you get the Blackberry Curve from Amazon
5. Take some good pictures and post the Blackberry for sale on eBay
6. I suggest starting the auction for $1
7. Make sure you post the Blackberry under the appropriate categories to maximize the final sale price
8. If done right,the phone should sell for around $300
9. Take your newly earned skrilla to Apple and put it towards a shiny new iPhone

It works, I promise… Enjoy!

Being a longtime fan of skateboarding and, occasional, moderately decent shredder myself, I’m really psyched on this footage of Rodney Mullen, one of the sport’s pioneers. Judging by Rodney’s garb, It’s obvious the video’s circa 1984 (around the time I was born… Just saying.) Though it was filmed in Japan, so you never know, thigh-high denim coupled with calf-covering socks might have been all the rage over there… Who knows?

Nevertheless, the skill showcased is like nothing you see anymore. Sure, there’s something to be said for a skater who can huck him/herself 40-feet into the air and land on a piece of wood, barely big enough to support two feet. But let’s be real! I mean, given the primitive nature of the equipment and the social standing of skateboarding at the time, Mr. Mullen’s forward thinking, fluid movements and precision foot work is, without question, incredible. Enjoy!

Alright, so I cheated on one of 2008’s resolutions and acquired a vehicle. Don’t fret, I still commute by foot and bike, daily. However, I no longer have to ride with a week’s groceries, mooch rides from friends or wait until the morning-of to find out if I’ll make it to a bike race or not.

In the end I have no regrets. My 2000, gold, Nissan Sentra was just too good of a deal to pass up… This thanks to my friends, the Veatch-Bouge’s!!! I’m stoked on my decision to conform with society and promise:

Today was unarguably Portland’s most beautiful day of 2008… Freezing cold? Definitely! But absolutely gorgeous to say the least.

Being an Ohio transplant by way of Montana made today’s freezing temperature pretty easy on me. Though not-so-much true for native Portlanders. Today I learned that ice sneaks up on you; especially when descending steep, rural roads on a bicycle. There’s a lot of water run-off in Portland and water freezes. Surprised? I was…

For those complaining about the cold, just remember, it could always be worse. Take Newfoundland for example, where oceanic waves freeze at mid-crest.

And by “losing steam” I mean Starbuck’s is losing sales. To who I don’t know, but maybe it has something to do with my recent boycott of single serving coffee. See, about a month ago I was coerced into making a donation to a local non-profit. I don’t regret my charitable act, but I have to recoup the cost somehow, so I’ve decreased the number of cups of coffee I purchase. I have another few weeks to go, but I’m confident in my sacrifice, mind you there’s a plethora of free coffee at work.

Now back to the matter at hand, Starbucks addressing falling traffic with TV ads. Don’t worry, Starbucks isn’t going out of business; instead, the coffee juggernaut is trying to be proactive and fixing their problem before it becomes a PROBLEM. I guess the lesson learned is that even Starbucks is vulnerable to economic downturns. However, the image to the right, detailing ten Starbucks within walking distance of each other, shows that they’re doing fine.

In the end, I’m all for advertising (it’s how I eat,) but is a national TV ad campaign the answer? In my opinion, it can’t hurt, but it might be cheaper for Starbucks to simply buy up more of its competitors… I am half joking and pro-competition. I’m also psyched to see the ads.

By definition, an Indian Summer is a period of warm, sunny and subsequently incredible weather in Autumn. The climate’s a little odd, but I’m not complaining as it’s great weather for off-season training rides. However, I am a bit concerned because of this “global warming” thing I’ve heard so much about.

Nevertheless, I will continue to enjoy the beautiful fall days and try not to procreate, for fear that my offspring will be tortured by tsunamis, endless day-light and scorching heat as a result of the post-global-warming apocalypse… Just thinking ahead.

That’s what Nike and their ad agency thinks about Nike ZOOM footwear. Do I agree? Of course! But QiD isn’t necessarily true for the majority of consumers buying Nike. Never-the-less, it’s a pretty rad and well executed campaign that’s strung across a number of mediums, most notably Interactive Television.

If someone asked, I would have called it FAST GOT FASTER. That’s just me…pffff

It’s official, fall has arrived here in Portland. I knew it was coming, but post-this week I was expecting at least another week-or-so of decent weather; after all, we did have a moderately mild summer. Unfortunately the aforementioned is not the case as, over the weekend, fall rolled into town like a storm, literally. Bullock!

Am I sad? Not really, as it-is-what-it-is. On the plus side I now get to feel good about being a little lazier, which means more happy hours, slippers, football, baked goods containing pumpkin, blogging, etc., etc.

Rain or shine, it’s going to be an exciting weekend. Stay tuned for stories, pics and perhaps video from: Chris’s bachelor party and wedding, another cyclocross race and the annual Guinness Cycling beer criterium (drink a beer, ride a lap, drink a beer, ride a lap…you get the point.)