So I am quite sure that our Texas Friends/Family will see the title for this blog post and a warm feelings will overcome them as they think that Chapan is trying to become a true Texan. Sorry, I will explain the title as the post goes on.. Not that I don't think Texas is pretty cool, I mean it is the place that Kami's Brothers and Sisters in law call home, my dad and his uncles were raised there, and my Uncle Danny lives there still today. I was just out on a bike ride the other day and was wearing my UT jersey and reflecting on one of the bike races that I won when I was in high school. When I crossed the finish line in a panic because my friend who was spectating after finishing his race started yelling at me telling me someone was right behind me (turns out he was part of the race that started after mine) and instead of doing the hands up in the air excited for winning I did the hook em horns so that I didn't fall off my bike looking like an idiot after the race. So, you might be asking what it has to do with anything pertinent to this blog post? Valid question, absolutely nothing, but at the same time maybe everything you (the reader) decide.. As I steamed down the road (on my bike ride) I had a few thoughts that had matured into a bucket list as the ride progressed. Some of you may be reading this and say I never knew these things about Chapan, count this as a rare glimpse into my head you might only get a few.
The first thought that I had was to have a bike shop. I would love to one day own an independent bike shop where I can spend my days enjoying one of my favorite hobbies, especially if I could make the shop have the feel that I want it to have. I really like the feel of the old Lakeview Hardware store in Battle Creek complete with its hardwood floors, and nice storefront windows. It would be a dream to have a shop fashioned after this craftsmanship of the previous generations. It was a dream of my Grandpa's to have a shop one day and he had things in motion to start a shop up in Michigan but didn't have a place to open the shop. He was going to be one of the first Trek Bicycle Dealers in the state.
Second thought I had was about how much I want to start a nonprofit organization. As crazy as it sounds I would like to buy up housing in low income areas and flip them hoping to help people out the way that Habitat for Humanity does. One of my favorite movies of all time is Its a Wonderful life, and this dream comes from the work that George Bailey put into the building and loan to help people live the American dream without becoming a slave to corporations that are only seeking after monetary gain.
The third thought that I had was that I want to become a master of Design Build Delivery System. You might be wondering what design build is? In a traditional system an owner will initiate a project hire an architect who will then design a building and then once all of that is done they will put the plans out to bid by a general contractor. A design build project can start one of a few ways, an owner will select a design build firm who will choose an architect (or the architect is part of the design build firm), or the owner will choose a Contractor and an Architect at the same time, and the design begins with the contractor involved. This system typically makes more sense in the building industry because it integrates the whole project team instead of dividing it. Its harder from one point because the contractor needs to be a lot more aware of what is going on in the process (changes happen all the time). Its just a lot more intense than traditional building which is why I want to master it. The project that I worked on with Layton Construction last fall was a pseudo design build and it was a lot of fun being in that type of environment versus that of a traditional delivery system.
Lastly for the sake of this blog post I kinda enjoy writing (if you couldn't tell by the length of this post), and I think it would be fun to have a blog or some other means of testing out bicycle equipment and writing my impressions of it. How cool would it be for people to send me parts to ride for a period of time as a form of marketing?
Well, I think I have written my fingers off for one night. If anyone makes it to the end of this congratulations. I might actually post on here again sometime..