Workingman's Guide to the Centenary Giro

by Chris... on May 1, 2009 3:14 PM EDT in News Comment 85 comments

[Ed: This post is being recycled from the archives, circa whenever it was they announced the course. Many outlets are circulating their stage-by-stage route analyses, but only here at the Podium Cafe do we publish a guide to your life, and how to incorporate it into watching the Giro. Because we love you.]

One of the biggest dilemmas a Cycling fan ever faces is how to reconcile work with the grand tours. OK, a fair number of fans (Australians, people in the US and Europe who work nights, the independently wealthy, cycling journalists) have neatly sidestepped the train wreck of career and love of a good bike race on a Wednesday in May. The rest of us face choices. What follows is one fan's advice on how to make those choices. Stage by stage, here's how to handle the entire 2009 Giro d'Italia.

Stage 1, Venice TTT, 20.5km
Saturday, May 9
PdC Recommends: Catch Nightly Highlights

The kickoff of the Centenary Giro d'Italia will be full of pomp and pageantry, which I personally can't stand. Also, the team time trial is about as non-telegenic as bike racing gets. Yes, it's fun to see a team in motion. Yes, the results are not insignificant, although it didn't save Garmin last year. And yes, I personally love team time trials. It's just that there's a lot of racing left. Some really amazing racing. Pace yourself.

This will take a few moments. So... on the flip:

Stage 2, Jesolo to Trieste, 156km
Sunday, May 10
PdC Recommends: Strategic Coffee Breaks

Strictly a sprinters' stage, one of very few. Italians love their sprints as much as anyone, and lord knows people love Italian sprinters. Next, a downtown sprint finish in Trieste will be a beautiful sight, an interesting place with a lot of Giro history. And finally, the maglia ciclamena competition may not offer much to the pure speed guys, which is all the more reason to start bagging stages ASAP. Sprint teams will be in full cry.

Stage 3, Grado to Valdobbiadene, 200km
Monday, May 11
PdC Recommends: Catch nightly highlights

Hm, there may be something cool about this stage -- a funky run-in to the line or something -- but it's not readily apparent. It's a little early for long breakaways, so expect more sprinting. Pace yourself...

Stage 4, Padova to San Martino di Castrozza, 165km
Tuesday, May 12
PdC Recommends: Run a long "errand"

The climbs haven't been rated yet, but you'd have to think the riders will downplay this stage a bit. I can't find the final climb stats on Climbbybike.com, but the penultimate Croce d'Aune hump is in the 5% range. And the next day is a monster. And it's stage 4. The stage hunters will make a nice show though.

Stage 5, San Martino to Alpe di Suisi, 125km
Wednesday, May 13
PdC Recommends: Call in sick

Crazy course: A mere 125 km, the first 8 of which are uphill, followed by 60 km (!) of descending, 35km to get the feeling back in your extremities, and a 25km climb from a low valley to 1850 meters. I calculate something like a 6% average, and it's a short day, but make no mistake, it's business time.

Stage 6, Bressanone to Mayrhofen (AUT), 242km
Thursday, May 14
PdC Recommends: Strategic coffee breaks

The peloton rolls up its sleeves today... or doesn't, and rides a ridiculous piano tempo on day one of two long, long stages with no shortage of minor climbs. This sucker has long breakaway written all over it, particularly with two mountain passes to demoralize the sprinters. Tune in to see if the break can drive it home.

Stage 7, Innsbruck (AUT) to Chiavenna, 244km
Friday, May 15
PdC Recommends: Strategic coffee breaks

For all the wonderfully entertaining stages this Giro offers, it's interesting that the organizers have remembered to tuck in two completely miserable, old-skool grinds to put the hurt on the peloton. Grand tours aren't for punters, yo. Today's stage is about 200km of barely perceptible incline, a 1300-meter rise, before a 35km screaming descent to the line. Probably one for the sprinters, though not all of them. Or Paolo Savoldelli.

Stage 8, Morbegno to Bergamo, 208km
Saturday, May 16
PdC Recommends: Catch nightly highlight

Speaking of Savoldelli, the peloton rolls into his hometown here, after probably enough climbs for the sprint teams to leave this one to the break hunters.

Stage 9, Milano Circuit Race, 155km
Sunday, May 17
PdC Recommends: Call in sick

What?! A circuit race around Milano? I'll defer to the officials out there, but I'm pretty sure a CR doesn't come with funky rules like a criterium; it's just a road race that runs several laps, here eight laps of a 16km circuit, after a brief promenade. Has a grand tour ever run a major urban circuit race? This is just too unusual to miss. I have literally no idea what will happen.

Stage 10, Cuneo to Pinerolo, 250km
Tuesday, May 19 (after rest day)
PdC Recommends: Quit your job

Unlike calling in sick or taking a personal day, only by quitting your job can you be 100 percent certain nobody from work (or friends, or family, for that matter) will bother you during this stage. This is not only the queen stage, not even close. No, it's a retracing of the queen stage of the 1949 Giro d'Italia all-time classic Fausto Coppi romp, when he beat Gino Bartali into a complete pulp. The Giro's longest stage consists of a mere five deadly climbs through the French and Italian Alps, followed by a 55km descent to the line. Surreal... beautiful... historic... cycling. As you all know, this stage has been altered to stay within Italian borders and away from some of the more problematic (in May) French Alpine passes. But it's still massively long -- 260km -- and portends a huge battle on the slopes of Sestriere, as well as an end-of-stage ramp in Pramartino before a descent to the line. Still the Queen Stage. Really, quitting your job is the right thing to do.

Stage 11, Torino to Arenzano, 205km
Wednesday, May 20
PdC Recommends: Look up the results online

Nobody in his right mind will feel like riding on this day. This will be a 200km parade to a sprint. It's hard to imagine this becoming interesting. And honestly, in light of the stages before and after, I'd feel terrible if they felt pressured to work hard on this stage for my amusement.

Stage 12, Sestri Levanti to Riomaggiore, 61.5km ITT
Thursday, May 21
PdC Recommends: Call in sick

RCS delivers the rumored endless time trial. The length boggles the mind some, and the bumpy shore route begs the question whether this race will shake out much differently than the Tour's standard 50-55km ones. A lot will happen to the GC, of course, including as many as a half-dozen spectacular blowups, but the action is mostly in the last hour, and the beautiful pictures won't mean as much as what the clock says. Classic stage... but personally road stages are more fun to me.

Stage 13, Lido di Camaiore to Firenze, 150km
Friday, May 22
PdC Recommends: Strategic coffee breaks

Short and flat. Hopefully Mother Nature will throw in a tailwind. These guys will have seriously earned it. A pure sprinters' stage to one of the world's great cultural capitals, as well as one of the original host cities in 1909. The last 10km will be beautiful to watch.

Stage 14, Campi Bisenzio to Bologna, 174km
Saturday, May 23
PdC Recommends: Strategic coffee breaks

The visit to Bologna marks the fourth original-Giro city in four days (Firenze, Torino, Genoa/Arenzano). And an exciting day as well, as the Giro shifts from sprint finishes to more challenging finales. Profiles aren't especially accurate, but it looks like there's a good 4km of tough climbing to the line. Wind up all those Italian climbers who can sprint and grab an espresso. Update, by Chris: Apparently this is the Giro dell'Emilia finishing climb. Might need to upgrade this to run a long "errand".

Stage 15, Forli to Faenza, 159km
Sunday, May 24
PdC Recommends: Step out to deal with a "minor emergency"

Just a bear of a stage, with six moderate climbs (four rated), and a 24km descent to the line. The peloton probably won't survive intact on this one, barring any agreements. The going gets tough after today, so the stage hunters will be all over this one.

Stage 16, Pergola to Monte Petrano, 237km
Monday, May 25
PdC Recommends: Call in sick

Maybe the second-hardest stage of the race, a long hump through the Marche over four rated climbs and a half-dozen others. The last ten km up Monte Petrano will make a difference. This is a hard climb, mostly over nine percent. With the world talking about the glitzier stages, this might be one that catches people by surprise.

Stage 17, Chieti to Blockahus, 79km
Wednesday, May 27 (after rest day)
PdC Recommends: Request bereavement leave

At this point, assuming you've followed our advice all along, calling in sick again might not work. I dunno about quitting, but this is no time to risk having to work. Do what needs to be done. The Blockhaus climb is just legend: 28km averaging over 7%. Also, the stage is only 79km, just long enough to warm up before the main course. Very strange, but one possible outcome is that the contenders use the short day and go all out. On day 17, they should be doing so. You never know, but this is the safest bet for best day of racing.

Stage 18, Sulmona to Benevento, 181km
Thursday, May 28
PdC Recommends: Strategic coffee breaks

Looks like there might be an uphill finish to this one, if the profile is to be believed (which it probably isn't). In any case, no sprinter in his right mind -- save for the maglia ciclamena perhaps -- will still be left in the race, so the finale will be fun.

Stage 19, Avellino to Monte Vesuvio, 164km
Friday, May 29
PdC Recommends: Quit your job

At this point you're probably about to be fired anyway, and the certainty of unemployment will give you the space you need to watch this memorable race. As for the course, it's the last day for the climbers, a potentially long, hot stage through the outskirts of Naples, and up the active volcano that destroyed Pompeii. Every time I picture this stage I start giggling, but then I don't have to climb 1000 feet in the last 13km of a hard race.

Stage 20, Napoli to Anagni, 207km
Saturday, May 30
PdC Recommends: Strategic coffee breaks

One last time for the Cunego types to snag a stage. You have to be questioning Giuseppe Saronni's judgment about now, right? I mean, the Giro will never do more to cater to the skillset of Damiano Cunego and Alessandro Ballan, their two somewhat distinct classics champions. But Saronni has to make a statement by boycotting the rollout, because... why again? Guiseppe, ever hear of picking your battles?

Stage 21, Roma ITT, 15.3km
Sunday, May 31
PdC Recommends: Retire

It's hard for me to say anything objective about Rome. My honeymoon was there, my bloodlines run through it (Mr Van P bears an uncanny resemblance to Francesco Totti), and, well, it's Rome. As for the course, it's short and flat, so it won't make for huge gaps, but the race starts at the ancient Fora, takes in St. Peter's Square, the Circus Maximus, Villa Borghese, promenade east of the Vatican, and ends with a circuit around the Colosseum. That's not the coolest time trial; it's the coolest possible time trial. Returning to a normal life afterward will be unthinkable, so... good luck.

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Comments

might be a better idea to quit at the begining of May...

for ppl living in my time zone though
GT means finishing at 2am everyday
which one is more painful I wonder?

by rbjhan on Dec 15, 2008 3:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The TTT is usually my favorite type of TT stage

As far as Garmin goes, they were put together to win time trials. The Giro was exactly what they hoped for, so mission accomplished.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Dec 15, 2008 7:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think they will save their TT aces for the Tour this year

which is a bit of a bummer because as you say if they were to go after it this would be their dream-Giro.

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Dec 15, 2008 7:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Quiet excellent. You have arranged my May for me.

I’m sure more excuses could be thought of if case the the bosses see through it all. How about ‘working from home’? That would work a treat. You may actually be rewarded for your dilligence. Taking the hamster to the vet? Or perhaps the excuse my ex flute teacher once came up with for not teaching me: ‘I have maggots in my wormery’.

by Albertina on Dec 15, 2008 8:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Quite excellent, not quiet excellent.....

by Albertina on Dec 15, 2008 8:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

100 th

is excellent

by huy on Dec 15, 2008 9:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget there are rest days too.

The second Monday and third Tuesday IIRC. “Honest boss, I’ll work late those days.”

Speed on the descent can easily be lost when you slam into a tree.

by flying dog on Dec 15, 2008 9:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

and six stages on the weekends

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Dec 15, 2008 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

memo to gav

Find and upload clean Giro map graphic. This one sucks, but I was in a hurry.

by gavia on Dec 15, 2008 11:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol, that was fun

thanks :-)

how long until may? sheesh.

by gavia on Dec 15, 2008 11:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Once again I know why I'm in the right line of work

because Spring semester ends the first week of May . . .

by R Mc on Dec 15, 2008 12:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ha! We all hate you.

by Albertina on Dec 15, 2008 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When it comes to the San Martino climb

I believe it is the first 14km of the 22km Passo Rolle, the final 8km will be done as the first 8km of stage 5. Here is the Rolle profile, see San Martino labeled at km 14, it’s actually a ski village and not a climb.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 15, 2008 12:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Fantastic post.

God, this course is incredible. Mouthwatering for us, absolute hell for those guys…looks like it was designed by Buzzati himself. One request: can you post this again, say, the day before the race starts? ;)

by plinytheelder on Dec 15, 2008 1:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sure!

Or, a week before, during our big Giro splurge.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 15, 2008 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Chris

This is wonderful. Anyone have any idea if Cycling TV is going to cover the race in full? Any press releases or inside info? Roland? Rebecca? You guys out there?

by Jimbo... on Dec 15, 2008 2:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So far

silence. I think we can guarantee that there will be complete live coverage on Cycling.TV, unless Versus takes it away from them. That said, I’m talking out of my bottomside, and don’t have any inside info. CTV folks???

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 15, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry you aren't able to work up any enthusiasm for this race Chris

maybe it won’t be as dull as you think. Well, there is always the Eneco Tour for you to enjoy.

Seriously , Stage 14 is going to be a blast as well. I can’t give you one of your beloved profiles but check out the finish of this years Giro dell’Emilia (same finishing climb).

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Dec 15, 2008 2:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oooh

Excellent catch! Finally I can see what a portion of that race looks like. That RCS, they give and they give…

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 15, 2008 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was wondering why you weren't more excited about stage 14

it’s going to be incredible, could be 5-20 second gaps between GC favorites as well. Stages 14-17 are must see stuff. BTW is it too early for stage winner predictions? Because Di Luca made the San Luca climb look like it was a 4% hill this year, he’s my pick for stage 14 already.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 15, 2008 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

info pickings are a bit slim, so I figured I’d get this post up and let y’all fill it out for me. Thanks!

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 15, 2008 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, also I think Giro profiles are actually quite accurate

at least a lot more accurate than most profiles. So chances are that if a stage looks tough, it’s going to be tough.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 15, 2008 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Could it be...

that my yearlong project to ridicule profiles has shamed them into using real ones? I mean, at any given moment there are junior high kids writing programs that could extract google earth satellite data into a realistic profile, so there’s no excuse anymore.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 15, 2008 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So I can have an excuse to skip work....

I’ve been strictly a fair weather TdF fan in the past… Is Vs carrying the Giro in 09? or do you watch online and pull up a spreadsheet when a colleague walks past?

by SportsAcademic on Dec 15, 2008 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I do the latter.

It adds a little excitement and danger to the occasion!

by Albertina on Dec 15, 2008 2:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Versus

no word yet. Usually the answer is they do a weekly wrap and stage on Sundays. But I can’t believe Lance’s appearance isn’t making them think about something more this year.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 15, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Vs shows the Giro because of Lance

then that’s at least one positive of his coming out of retirement, eh?

by Le Comte on Dec 15, 2008 5:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oops..

sorry for asking the Vs question again. Refresh! Refresh!

by SportsAcademic on Dec 15, 2008 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, so the plan is to call in sick now

and then quit on Wednesday? Have I got that right?

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Dec 15, 2008 8:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

this excuse won't work for most...

but for me it should – going on mat leave at the start of May, and first babies often arrive late so my May 24 estimated due date could mean that I catch all of the Giro before junior arrives ;-)

by guidemd on Dec 15, 2008 11:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

try not to get excited while watching the Giro... oh

do you have a DVR?

by lyne on Dec 16, 2008 12:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we have a naming contest?

I have a few really excellent ideas that I was not able to use on my own kids… Oh, and congratulations!

by Jimbo... on Dec 16, 2008 12:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here is a sample

Boy… Magnus
Girl… Liz Hatch

by Jimbo... on Dec 16, 2008 12:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And remember

The feminine of “Girobecco” would be “Girobecca.”

by majope on Dec 16, 2008 9:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Such good planning guidemd!

Was that just lucky chance or did you consult the calendar before trying for a baby?! If it’s a boy and it comes during the Giro, you must name it after the person who wins a the stage on that day…..and just hope the name is something sensible ;-)

by Albertina on Dec 16, 2008 8:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

looking back at the stage winners in 2008 a number of the names could work for a girl too, with perhaps a bit of modification. Daniele (could be configured as Danielle) would be a good name for a girl, I think. Or Gabriele (Emanuele could work, too, but I don’t think he’ll be too welcome next year and I’m not sure I’d want to name a baby in his honor anyway). Franco or Jens might be a little too cutting-edge for a baby girl, though…

by Le Comte on Dec 16, 2008 10:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Danilo could go either way too I suppose...

I sure hope Jens! doesn’t win the day Junior is born – might have a hard time explaining to junior why he/she has an exclamation point at the end of their name… Makes it difficult to fill in those bubble name cards too…

by Patrick B. Penguin on Dec 17, 2008 1:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so are guidemd & patrick B penguin a couple?

by lyne on Dec 17, 2008 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

sheesh I really need an edit button today

after all these years I never knew that.

by lyne on Dec 17, 2008 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

really lucky chance actually

we’ve been trying for a few years, so total coincidence now on the timing – lol. Not sure about all the name ideas though, we’ll see ;-).

by guidemd on Dec 17, 2008 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So perfect

And really, there’s nothing to do in the first six weeks besides sit around and feed the kid. Just keep the sound down a bit so s/he doesn’t get overstimulated. Lord knows, that tiny brain watching the Block Haus stage would translate into about three hours of crying later, minimum.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 16, 2008 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hell

I’ll probably cry afterwards for at least a half hour.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 16, 2008 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

er, shouldn't the title of this thread be the "workingperson's guide to the centenary giro"?

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Dec 16, 2008 7:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sheesh.

Women don’t work. We just sit around knitting doilies, swapping recipes, and signaling the pool boy that we need another drink.

(Are doilies knitted?)

by majope on Dec 16, 2008 9:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i think doilies are crocheted...

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Dec 16, 2008 11:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

tatted

by JFS_PGH on Dec 20, 2008 11:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of

oh pool boy

by lyne on Dec 16, 2008 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oh darn the pool water is frozen

by lyne on Dec 16, 2008 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good. More ice for the drinks.

Google is my domestique.

by majope on Dec 16, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

excelllllennnt

now, where do i get a refill?

by gavia on Dec 16, 2008 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

work?!

what is this work you speak of?

i’m going with crocheting on the doilies.

pool boy, oh pool boy…

by gavia on Dec 16, 2008 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

doillies are

the most pointlessgoddamnthings on the planet.

by Sui Juris on Dec 16, 2008 8:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

tool of patriarchal oppression

if the women are kept busy making doilies, they won’t cause any trouble

;-)

by gavia on Dec 16, 2008 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

pretty sure they were trying to crochet a hanging rope

by lyne on Dec 16, 2008 9:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so subversive

by gavia on Dec 16, 2008 10:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes but

I thought a few people wouldn’t mind a subtle Grateful Dead reference.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris... on Dec 16, 2008 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think I can use the appendix thingy again

so it’s up for grabs if someone wants the time off. :-) When you call the doc, to help make it believable, tell them you started with odd heart burn, then horrible nausua through the night, and then come morning it felt like it kept moving lower. And now, while on the phone, it’s not too bad. Just sort of sore on the side. :-) Enjoy. If planned correctly, it should get you at least 3 weeks!!! Enjoy.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Dec 16, 2008 11:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wish I was a better fibber!

by Albertina on Dec 16, 2008 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so we only have one appendix right?

by lyne on Dec 16, 2008 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think I have four.

One will cause trouble from the 5th April for a week, one will flare up in May, one in July and one in September. Numbers 2, 3 and 4 will be ‘terribly sore’ for three weeks at a time.

by Albertina on Dec 16, 2008 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It could be the same one, just blame in on a bad doc

for not removing it the first time it gave you issues. :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Dec 16, 2008 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That might sound more believable. Only a little bit mind.

by Albertina on Dec 16, 2008 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For what it's worth

tonsils can grow back. Okay, probably not 3-4 times a year, but it’s slightly more believable than a reappearing appendix.

Google is my domestique.

by majope on Dec 16, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can they now?

That is most useful to know…..

by Albertina on Dec 16, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

cough cough

just practicing

by lyne on Dec 16, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ooooooh... I might've found a few days at least!

Yeah. I’m going to start practicing. cough. cough cough. cough. I can so do this!
And, my co-workers don’t know mine are already gone so this could be milked a few times.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Dec 16, 2008 5:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Splutter cough moan croak

This is so do-able.

by Albertina on Dec 16, 2008 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kidney Stones

Kidney Stones- that’s the ticket. The pain is worse than an inflamed appendix – can hit you at any time. Can knock you out for a week easily!! And best of all – it can take WEEKS to clear them out of your system!!

by Patrick B. Penguin on Dec 17, 2008 12:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs