What I found was so much worse.

It is a painful, accurate read. I thought I was leading an interesting, fulfilling life. No, I’m just a typical, boring white person. Don’t believe me? Well, consider the bicycle, if you will. I found myself identifying with nearly every word in every single paragraph, with a particular emphasis on the European city bike. The European city bike is my utopian ideal. I didn’t know that all white women felt this way!

But let us not stop there. What about all my tales about studying abroad in Europe? Well, I did not actually study there, but close enough. I thought I was adventuresome, open to new cultures. No, it turns out, I’m just white.

And lastly, because I just can’t take it anymore, let’s talk about coffee. I do not have anything to add to this.

I won’t even talk about Barrack Obama.

Why even have a blog anymore. This blog sees through all my white shit.

Disclaimer: Some of the comments are by stupid white people, although they can be funny, even though that is not the intent. Not all white people think or act like those stupid white people. But the blog is accurate. Read the one about moving to Canada. I’ve always threatened Switzerland, however, but I think that corresponds to the “studying abroad” idea. It’s all the same.

This was a calculated risk. What if I suddenly forgot how to speak it? What if she’d respond back in English, which happens to me all the time when I attempt to speak in someone’s native language. It’s a subtle way of saying, Don’t even try.

Glee! She responded to me in her language, asking me how I learned it. From her novels, I said. I have no idea why I said that She looked at me as if that could not be true. And from my boyfriend, I said. This is partially true. And from Rosie-Posie Sandybanks of Frogmorton, I said.

Rosie-Posie is her ex-daughter-in-law, and a good friend of mine, who would, if she were to read this, know that this is a complete lie.

Should I be proud for composing fiction in front of Sweetpea Bumbleroot in a foreign language? Or completely ashamed of myself? My fib was not intentional; it’s hard bloody hard thinking on your toes under this kind of pressure.

A couple of years ago, Rosie-Posie got Sweetpea Bumbleroot to sign a bagfull of books for everyone in Berilac’s (that’s my boyfriend)  family, the Gamwiches of the Bree Gamwiches, but I was too shy to ask for one.

But today, she signed two for me. Para Katie Kelly, con afecto on one, y con cariño on the other. Isabelle Allende.

I have to go to the bathroom now.

My cynicism is so deep and efficient that my respect for Alexandre Vinokourov plummeted as soon as I read that he’d won the 15th Stage of the Tour de France by a landslide victory, just a day after his dismal 14th stage performance. I didn’t need to wait for the positive blood doping test.

Today’s VeloNews top story: Vinokourov tests positive; Astana withdraws from Tour.

I am so cynical that I was suspicious after his Time Trial win, the stage in which he actually tested positive, but only felt secure in this assumption after Stage 15.

Maybe I’m not so much cynical but a realist.

Maybe he knew he had nothing to lose, and just wanted a taste of the forbidden fruit. Not having ever been in his shoes, nor will I ever, I can only guess.

I jumped into this sport too late to have any real heroes anyway, but one more drug doping scandal and fallen hero confirms my previously held suspicion that if you’re going to idolize anybody, why not let it be God or Jesus or some superhuman figure who’s very existance is debatable, not just due to a significant lack of evidence, but because it’s just so hard to fathom that any human being could be that good. We aren’t. Parts of us are. It’s why we want heroes. We want the people around us to inspire ourselves to new heights. You just have to find the right ones.

I, for one, shall continue to believe in what I cannot see.

Even the power for the live musical acts shall be generated by solar paneling. I learned all of this the other day at my friend Jen’s housewarming party in Berkeley. She just got a job with the New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of the fine Fat Tire Amber Ale, so it was totally cool that she invited her boss Ian to the party. He gave us the whole low-down, and now I am passing it on to you.

Admission is free.

Police Locate San Rafael Child in Stolen Car
Updated July 6, 2007 at 3:46 p.m.

SAN RAFAEL (KRON) – San Rafael Police say they have now found a vehicle containing a five year old boy.  The 2004 GMC Yukon was stolen with the child inside just after 2:30 p.m. Friday.  Authorities now confirm to KRON 4 News that the child and vehicle have been found.

Police issued an alert for the vehicle including its license plate number.  Witnesses last saw the SUV outside a daycare facility in the area of Mission and Court in San Rafael.

KRON 4′s Dan Kerman is following these developments and will have more on this breaking story.

And, by the way, as of 4:30, the helicopters are still flying around.

San Rafael Amber Alert Ends; Missing Boy Found

(CBS 5 / KCBS / BCN) SAN RAFAEL An Amber Alert was briefly issued Friday for a sport utility vehicle believed to contain a five-year-old boy that was reported stolen from in front of a San Rafael store.

The alert was issued about 3:15 p.m. Within a half-hour, authorities released a statement saying, “The Amber Alert has been canceled. The child has been recovered.” No further details were immediately available.

The San Rafael Police Department said the alert was triggered when the vehicle, parked in downtown on Court Street, was taken about 2:30 p.m.

Police said the mother of the child left him in the car to run in to a child care center to retrieve another child . When she came out, the vehicle was gone.

The vehicle involved was decribed as a black GMC Yukon 2004 License # 5FZU506. On the back of the vehicle wasa Fallen Leaf Lake sticker as well as several yacht club stickers.

Police had set up road blocks in the area and an Amber Alert was issued for the little boy named “Petey,” described as a white male with red hair and freckles.