Shared Drives

My time on this shared MacBook has been compromised. It started out innocently a couple months ago. I sent my wife a photo of one of my brother's found on Facebook. I unexpectedly unearthed the photo of him on a Facebook Page dedicated to "fallen" students of my high school. The email arrives in my wife's inbox at which point it dictates she create a Facebook account to view the image.

210 Friends and counting later, my wife is all over Facebook. At first we joked about inflating our Friend numbers. Now we jokingly communicate through Facebook. It might be a sign of an ever so slight addiction. I'm happy though to see her embracing the power of the internet. Since she's a Seattle transplant, it has been a wonderful way for her to reconnect with distant friends. If I can find some sneaky way to get her hooked on blogging, then I'd feel like I really accomplished something special this year. There's hope!

Oh yeah, can you tell how relieved I am to have decided against linking to my blog on Facebook? Not posting a link to my blog has saved me much headache explaining to people I haven't seen in 20 years what I do for a living. Sadly, I've gotten a bit obnoxious with the Status Updates because I find the whole thing silly. Now I'm one of them. I promise I won't blog about Facebooking... much.
-----------------
Dear cyclists,

I'm one of you. Granted, I'm behind the steering wheel more often. I'm pretty familiar with the rules of the road as a cyclist and a motorist. I typically ride my bike for triathlon training, not for daily work commuting. Here are some things I'd like to point out as to better commune on the rough and tumble streets of Seattle.

1) Sidewalks aren't meant for bikes. Don't stare at me if I don't see you riding down a sidewalk at night without any visible lights or reflectors. You've got to meet motorists halfway. Stand out! I would get ticketed for driving my car without headlights after dark. Wear reflective underwear if you must!

2) I realize it's a big pain in the ass to unclip your shoes at intersections. I know it's why you balance your bike instead of unclipping while waiting for the light to change. I'm impressed by how well you can handle your bike and your calves. What impresses me more is eye contact. I prefer to see the whites of your eyes to establish rapport.

3) Don't ride two abreast if you're slowing traffic. It's plenty easy to drop back and ride single file as cars pass. You're not any less of a cyclist if a car passes you. It won't negatively impact your ego or manhood. Leave that to the bike shorts!

Diligent Driver

P.S. please, please, please wear a damn helmet.
------------------
Hear this, hear this! This blog just got 11% easier to remember. You can simply type www.lessinges.com to get here each and every time. If I want to become a rockstar blogger, I need a vanity domain and bought one I did.
------------------
Happy Turkey Day to everyone! Holidays are special, enjoy them to their fullest. Catch you all on the flip side.

Comments

[Michelle]

Facebook really is addicting. But I love it because it means I can keep in contact with friends from back home (Oregon)

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well - obviously no one in England celebrates, but my husband has cooked me a yummy dinner every year since I moved and even buys me a present for Thanksgiving (usually American sweets I can't get here)! :)

[Diane Mandy]

Oh, Egan! You were already a rockstar before you bought the vanity domain!

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Essentially Me]

Hooray for Facebook! I feel I should move across the country so I'd have an adequate excuse of having an account. Tick, tock.

[Chris]

Your facebook status updates are the stuff legend was made of.

I agree with Diane Mandy's comment.

Let's get than information to bikers across the land!

Gobble Gobble.

[kirk]

Facebook, schmacebook.

[brookem]

i don't "do" facebook from work anymore.
yet, im doing this? hmm.
happy thanksgiving to you and yours.

[SM]

"Not posting a link to my blog has saved me much headache explaining to people I haven't seen in 20 years what I do for a living."

What you do for a living. HA!! Love it. If only blogging paid and you didn't have to have a real job to support your habit, right?

Love the new URL...glad you finally got it to work! And impressed that "lessinges.com" was even open. Did you reserve it awhile back to ensure that or something?

[SM]

Oh and happy Turkey Day to the Lessinges family. Gobble Gobble.

[churlita]

I don't link to my blog from Facebook either. There are certain co-workers, and extended family members I don't want to know about it.

I've started writing imaginary letters on my blog to Facebook friends I haven't seen in over 20 years. So, write all you want about Facebook. I totally understand.

I agree with you about bicyclists too. I have a "Share the Road with Bicyclists" bumper sticker, but I agree cyclists should be held accountable as well.

[meno]

I am accasionally tempted to get a facebook account.

Thank you for reminding me why i don't.

Bikers (and drivers, pedestrians, skaters, etc.) can be real asses.

[Cléa]

Congrats on the new domain! All you need now is to move to WordPress.

As much as (most) cyclists have nice legs and derrieres, I don't want to be looking at them while driving in peak hour traffic. I just want to get to my destination.

Funny we both post about Facebook today...

Happy T giving.

[Kailyn]

Berkeley has plenty of cyclists. There are several who need to see your list. Like the guy who was wearing all dark clothing and no lights one evening but felt the need to suddenly cross my path. Thank goodness I have quick reflexes. Or those who insist upon riding two abreast even though I'm right on their tail in my car. Or my other peeve. Cyclists riding through crosswalks without stopping. Ummm. If you're riding, you have to obey the same traffic laws as cars. If you're walking your bike across the street, then I will treat you like a pedestrian.

[Amanda]

Ohhhh...I think I am beginning to understand Facebook addction too. In recent weeks, I find myself there more and more frequently. The more friends you find, the more you WANT to find.

[Essentially Me]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Michelle]

I forgot to mention before - since I've already outed myself on my blog, I can now say that the reason I read your blog is because of the nice comments you wrote on my BlogSecret post, so thank you.

[movin' down the road]

I saw your fanatic crazy status updates on Facebook. You're a nut. Keep us entertained.

[egan]

Michelle - thanks for checking in from England. I can't believe they don't celebrate Thanksgiving. I mean it's like we broke from them or nothing. Can't they be thankful for something else? I kid. Oregon? Do you miss it? Happy third birthday to Elliot!

Diane Mandy - you clearly know how flattery will get you in my world. Thanks for that one. Have a great weekend.

Essentially Me - you love Facebook. I know you say you don't, but you love it. Or at least you've got quite the love/hate relationship with Facebook. I love how you chopped off so many Friends. Get any flack for that one?

Chris - well thank you very kindly. I think the Status Updates should be mildly intriguing. I need to do a fake day soon. I do think motorists can also do a better job running cyclists off the road, particularly work on the passing techniques.

Kirk - I know, I know...

Brookem - they cut off Facebook and not blogging? Darn those government jobs.

SM - nope, I didn't reserve the domain. It was available. I figured someone from France would buy it eventually, but that wasn't the case. Hey, are you poking fun at my work ethic? I'm a hard worker. I work and play hard as they say in the business. (waiting for it... waiting)

SM - happy Turkey Day to you and your new addition. I bet this holiday has meant a lot more than usual. I'll wander over your way for an update or are you on Twitter too?

Churlita - it's as if we were ripped apart at birth with this post. The biking and the Facebook stuff. I am very sympathetic to cyclists, but you can't set a bad example for those of us who do follow the rules of the road (in a car or on a bike). You have the exact same reasons as not linking to your blog as I do. My sister-in-law put a comment on my Wall last night using my full last name. Damn her! Work is the biggest reason I don't link to my blog.

Meno - damn right, ice skaters and roller skaters are huge pain in my ass. Oh, you should get a Facebook account so I can send you a bunch Facebook applications. We could be even more tight than we are now. You know...

Clea - I will have to remember when Anzac Day is so I can pass along well wishes. Thanks. Facebook posts are great. On Facebook I pretend not to blog and here I blog about Facebook. I lead a complex life. WordPress is free right? Nah, I don't think I'll change.

Kailyn - yes, all dark clothing on cyclists is very risky. I have no clue why any do that. I wear a light when I go running and I'm only moving at about 6-8 mph. Overtaking a cyclist is a tricky one. I am really torn on the best way as a motorist and as a cyclist I've almost been run off the road so many damn times. It's so annoying.

Amanda - yeah, and that leaves less time for blogging and blog reading. It's a bit disappointing for me because my first love is blogging. I waste too much time on Facebook. Hmm. I do love finding "new" friends though.

Essentially Me - well thank you very much. How much do I owe you?

Michelle - thanks, you can see I've found my way to your blog over the past few days. Cute kids you have there.

Movin' Down the Road - thanks, I think. I get a tad carried away on the Status Updates and get a bunch theme related status updates in my head. Have a good weekend.

[ms chica]

Sharing the road is such a hassle! You would think drivers, pedestrians, bicyclist and motorcycles all lack the will to live. Turkeys in motion.

[JLee]

Hope you had a great Turkey Day, Egan!

[egan]

Ms. Chica - turkeys in motion is damn right and very timely. Sometimes we just don't share so well.

JLee - I saw you had to work this weekend. That sucks. Anyways, thanks for the holiday wishes. It went really well, no turkey mishaps which means no streaking necessary.