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Chapter 2 - Cycling Challenge

Cycling out of my road I decided I’d start by going off to the nearby park and cycle round there for a while. If I did have to go out, I’m glad it was at least a nice cloudless day with a gentle breeze blowing about. Everything just seemed calm, trees gently swaying about and ripples running through the grass. Maybe this exercising more often thing would be easier than I thought.

Maybe not. I could feel that unpleasant feeling attributed to lactic acid all over my legs. Now I remember why I don’t exercise more often, it’s uncomfortable and can lead to pain. Before you say it, yes I do know that if I did it more I’d get stronger and have more endurance, but I’d still have to be uncomfortable to get to that stage, and my body works just fine, thank you very much.

As I neared the park, pedalling less vigorously now, I noticed it was quite full, so I made a quick decision to divert along the riverside path nearby, and see where that takes me. About half way through my journey along the river I found a nice clearing with a bench, overlooking the mini waterfall in front of me. It was quite relaxing, so I just sat there for a while to get my breath back.

Deciding that was probably sufficient exercise to satisfy Mum for today I got back on my bike and headed back home, after all I had a new PC to set up.

“Hey Mum, I’m home” I shouted through the door as I tried to cram my bike into our already full garage, with little success.

“What’s with all the stuff in the garage anyway?” I asked, shoving aside some power tools to make room.

“Don’t you remember? Your father used to be quite the DIY handyman.” She paused for a moment, contemplating something, “Hey, honey! Why did you give up on the DIY, I can’t remember.”

“I hit one too many thumbs with hammers. Some of them were my own.” He replied jokingly.

Finally I finished cramming my bike in a space it shouldn’t fit and headed back into the house to carry my presents up to my room, especially my new pride and joy. But as I entered the room I found it suspiciously empty of presents. After a quick consultation with the oracle that is my Mum I found that everything had already been carried up for me. Well then, one less problem to worry about.

When I reached my room I found a pile of things in front of my door and for a second I wondered why they hadn’t been taken into my room like I thought they had been, but then I remembered that I locked my door as I left it earlier. Sighing, I unlocked the door and carried my new things into my room.

Most people, upon seeing my room, wonder how I get anything done. “There isn’t any space to move” they say, or Mum’s favourite, “Where’s the floor?” but I never have any trouble, I can do all the things I want to do and providing I’m not asked to do something out of the ordinary I can manage just fine thank you. Sure it may look messy, with cables all over the place, connecting various pieces of tech, both new and old. Sure my desk might be cluttered with open books, stationary and newspaper clippings, and sure my shelves may be stacked with CDs, DVDs, video games and computer software, but it was an organised mess and I knew where everything was when I needed it.

Now, where could I fit in my new pride and joy...

One montage worthy hour later a space had been cleared, PC set up, installed and connected to a monitor, loaded with all the basics I need for whatever purpose I designate to this beast of a computer. Let’s test what this thing can do I thought, loading up my blog.

Time to issue a challenge, “Dear Reader, I am issuing a challenge to you. Design a system that you think I cannot defeat. I received a little... upgrade recently and want to test my new limits. I’ll decide a prize for anyone that does beat me at a later date, but for now work under the motivation that you would be the one person to defeat me, as of yet.” That should do. Now to get this circulating and see what they can come up with.

Lifting my arms behind my head in comfortable anticipation I suddenly remembered another reason I dislike exercise. It makes you smelly. I wonder if I’ll get any challenges by the time I’m done showering?

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Hey, how are you? Good, good. Me? Oh, I was just wondering what Mike's hacker username should be. Any ideas, if so, leave me comment, and I will pick the one I like most. As an incentive, the owner of the best suggestion gets the next chapter dedicated to them.

See ya next chapter folks :D

Comment, vote, whatever. :P