Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Sunglasses Again

I sure seem to write about sunglasses a lot. I'm really getting kind of angry now... I am on my fourth pair of the summer. Which is why I don't buy good sunglasses. I lose 'em or break 'em. Of course, one could argue that perhaps I would take better care of my sunglasses if they were more valuable. What if I went ahead and spent a bunch of money and that isn't true though? What if I'm really just a naturally destructive force when it comes to sunglasses? Then I will have wasted money that could have been spent on my kids or starving kids or beer or beer for my kids (wait, no) instead of on proving something to myself that I already suspected! Gah!
 
Is there anyone out there who rides a bicycle often (or far) who does not think that sunglasses (or clear glasses) or goggles or something shielding your eyes is an absolute necessity? I couldn't have cared less when I was a kid, but I HATE riding without some sort of glasses now. 
 
The pair I'm currently wearing were purchased at a lost and found sale. They are those "Solar Shield" types. Some people like 'em because some styles will fit over top of eyeglasses. Others like having as much UV blocked as possible. I don't wear glasses though and I'm OK with a little UV action on the side (nudge nudge, wink wink). I thought they might keep wind and airborne crap out a little better, which they do.
 
I have two problems with these. Firstly, I knew peripheral vision would suffer a little, but I didn't count on my shoulder checks being WAY more difficult. I need to either lose these shades or grow a more flexible neck.
 
Secondly, especially when combined with my bike helmet and camera, I can't shake the feeling that I bring to mind Dr. Nefario from Despicable Me.
 
 



















I'm still wearing them for now despite my misgivings. Another cheap pair will come my way, I am sure.
 

Yer Pal,
R A N T W I C K

Monday, August 27, 2012

HispanWick?

I think most people who blog for a while start getting emails like this from time to time:
 

Hello Patrick,
After reviewing your blog, I think that you are a good match for our music community on HispanoBloggers.com, our free media syndication service for bloggers.
Participate in our blogging campaigns and we connect you with our network of media outlets--helping to increase traffic to your blog.
  
Join HispanoBloggers.com today, and happy blogging!
   
Mariana Gonzalez
Hispano Bloggers
info@hispanobloggers.com
www.hispanobloggers.com


 
This time around though, I was a little puzzled about how my blog could have suddenly have become a good match for a "music community" of any kind, let alone one of particular interest to Hispanic readers...
 


I'm guessing this has happened simply because I wrote that one post about that classy Costa Rican triathlete, Leonardo Chacón Corrales, and got myself flagged for keywords like Costa and/or Rica.

 
The thing is, I don't want to insult anybody. I mean, if HispanoBloggers wants to make me an honourary Latino, who am I to say no? I've always thought Latinos were among the sexiest of ethnic groups. I haven't felt sexy ever. Well, except for that one time, but that was just pretend as opposed to say, this:
 
 
 
 
 
Oh yeah. Get a load of me now.
 
 
Sigh. If only it could be so. Ah well, you know my life is pretty damn good and I can and should romance Mrs. Rantwick all the time instead of daydreaming about fake Tangos anyway... yep, I think all is actually as it should be.
 
 
Queridos HispanoBloggers,

Por mucho que me gustaría ser un hombre latino en lugar de uno blanco pastoso o que me escribió una gran cantidad de puestos que sean de interés para los lectores hispanos, ninguna de estas cosas son verdaderas.

Por lo tanto, es con pesar que estoy rechazando su gentil ofrecimiento para unirse a su blogger servicio de distribución de medios.
 

 Su Pal,

R A N T W I C K

PS - Mis disculpas si esta carta está mal escrito ... He utilizado "Google Translate" y no habla una palabra de español yo mismo.
 
 

 
Don't forget to just be yourself, because your self is just awesome,
 
R A N T W I C K