Welcome to Cody's Chop Shop

I've now been here 221 days leaving only 130 more to go, I can't believe that time has went by so fast, and will soon be coming to an end. I'm really starting to think about my time when I get back home and trying to get everything worked out. It sometimes has proved to be harder than I would have imagined. Some things that are coming up have me wondering where my life went. How is it that I am soon to be looking for my own apartment? Is it really time to start taking out student loans and chasing my Bachelors degree?

All these things really started to roll through my mind as I have been working on things for when I get home. most pressing issues are of course getting my course load figured out for BRCC this coming Fall. Which History, Health class should I take? Apply to VCU for the Spring. And finally securing employment for the Fall.  There is also wanting to start a relationship again when I get home. Ass All this builds up and a lot of the things that will follow these have driven me to the point of almost saying.... well the picture explains it.

Which brought up some other feelings this week, and here comes my sermon to you. I don't want to go back to the crazy stressed life I had before. It never occurred to me then, most likely because I was always so busy I never had tome to notice. But I was ALWAYS on the run. There was never a really time for me to relax, even on my days off work and school I was still either doing stuff for work or thinking of school. It got so bad that I even took part of my relationship as another task to complete rather than it actually being a relationship. My life became performing duties, and tasks. In the fantasy world of Pathfinder, a game me and my friends started to have a time to relax became a little like a job. Being the guy who could keep us going and coming up with plans. I realize now that I was digging myself a whole.

Over the past 6 months I've been the most relaxed and care free for many a years. I read books!!! Its funny how that is such an accomplishment to me. I actually read 3 books!! I forgot how much I enjoyed reading. I forgot how much I liked getting out and going geocaching.

Anyway to bring the tangent to a close; I really enjoy having time to relax, and I think that this is a problem that a lot of you can relate to. Take time to stop an smell the roses as the saying goes. That's my plan when I get back, to make sure I have some free time in my schedule.

Anyway you don't come to read these for a lecture

Host brothers costum

Monday where Rose Monday, I ended up staying in Münster, I had been partied out in Köln. We headed down to the parade and had a good afternoon, It was very similar to the one in Otti Botti the other week.

Tuesday I headed down to town to look about another internship lead. Ended up being a bust. So Wednesday Andreas helped me with some other leads he thought of... no word as of yet but it feels good for me. When we talked to the guy he sounded interested and asked for the paperwork. So I ended up spending most of the day proofing my CV and writing a cover letter.

Friday I started a project. I'm not sure I told you guys that my bike had died on me. The frame had cracked, and then due to the unstable seat I was thrown to the curb. After that I had left that one sit and taken the spare bike. Well on Friday evening I'm siting here and Andreas pulls up with this completely broken bike. So my project was to take two broken bikes and make 1 functional bike.

new old bike before I start working

Old bike disasembled

My host family was surprised I thought to hang the
bike to work on it without it falling over
or having to crouch

Finally after 3 hours I got both front forks off.

So after 2 days of work on this, I managed to build a usable bike. With only two non original bike parks. I'll call one re-fabricated, the brake arm needed to be attached to the frame with a brace. So I took the clip that held on one of the gear changers for the old bike. The other  part is a zip tie holding on the transition thing.

Completed new bike

Zip ties holding on transmition

re-engineering brace to hold the brake arm

So I found it to be really relaxing getting my hands covered in grease and oil. And really satisfying to have built something like this myself. And knowing that someone later will use it and it be dependable.

Anyway that's my week in a nutshell,

Cody A. Glick