Stir Crazy

This unusually warm weather is really getting to me, and I don't mean I'm getting too hot.  I've been without a bike for 2 1/2 years now, and I'm sorely missing it.  My original idea was to build up a bike over time, but I won't get it together until the end of the year, at least.  The frame and fork I have sitting in the basement just aren't cutting it.  They're neat to look at, but I can't exactly go for a ride.

So, impatience is taking over and I'm looking to get riding, now!  Screw this whole "It's the experience of building the bike that's worth it."  I'll just take something with wheels at this point  and figure out how to tear it apart later.  So, in my boredom, I've done a little looking.

Option 1:  I found a good bike for $1,200.  It's a Santa Cruz Blur from '06/'07.  Not the newest of bikes, but Blurs and considered some of the best out there.  SC makes good dependable bikes and have a great rear suspension design.  I also think it's an LT, meaning it's not a race oriented and has a beefier, comfy design.  Though the frame is a bit older, the parts are mostly newer and nice, including a fork worth north of $700 brand spanking new.  The only problem is I'd have to pay for shipping, which is another $100.  I'm not entirely sure how I'd swing it, but I'd figure it out.  For starters, the fork and frame now would be sold.

Option 2:  I found a Titus Motolite for $1,100.  It's a '09, so newer than the Blur, and it has a sweet paint job.  Supposedly, it was a special edition.  I don't care, it looks awesome.  The parts are pretty nice, too.  If Blur LTs are #1 (and were voted top bike one year on the MTBR site, Motolites are not far behind.  I understand they have a little more suspension than the Blur.  Unfortunately, Titus went under a couple of years back and were bought up by another company, so I'm not sure about their customer service these days.  Fortunately, this bike is in Colorado Springs and I know people there, so they just might be able to drop it by and avoid shipping.  Maybe.

Option 3:  I suck it up and wait to finish out my bike.

Not necessarily asking for advice, but just doing some therapeutic typing.

The New Addition!!!

...  Is a dog!!  No babies right now.  But, he's like having another child, that's for sure.  You know, it's one thing changing dirty diapers, but doing that and scrubbing crap out of the carpet just isn't my idea of fun.  Though to be honest, that's not a big deal now.  We've actually had Dylan (not named after Bob Dylan) for over a month now, and potty training is going really well.  Aidan has taken so well to him, but they are like a couple of brothers.  Aidan will poke, prod, pull hair, and otherwise antagonize the poor dog, but when Dylan starts to play a little rough, Aidan screams and hollers like he's being murdered.  But, he still loves Dylan!  Melissa has taken to him well, too.  She never thought she was a dog person until we got him.  But, it's hard to resist a little fluff ball like him!  He's not so little anymore, either.  When we got him, he was 10 lbs.  Now he's 18lbs, and still growing.  i knew golden retrievers grew fast, but wow!  I'm not ready for him to get big yet.  He's going to knock over everything.  We at least need to get him better trained, something I'm failing at.

Good Lord it's hot in here.  Is this the first of May, or first of July?