It's going all over the place. It's like a drunk trying to walk home my resting at every light pole and then stumbling over to the wall to do the same.

I've decided, by the way, to fight the crowds and watch the race from the Start/Finish area near the Colosseum. Call me crazy, but I think it'll be the best place to be, especially to see the final podium.

Speaking of which (since I will be taking crazy photos), I'm thinking of getting a new camera for the trip. Something tiny. Anyone out there got one of these? Consumer Reports really likes an older model and it's cheap.

Anyway, onto the rambling.
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Check out the finished product. Now a permanent part of the Rogers Middle School in Hyde Park.

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1/3 of the way through. Let's do a list, shall we?

1. LPR could pack up and go home and they'd still have had a great race. Petacchi, of course owned the early sprints and now The Killer is stirring things up with aggressive, tactically smart riding (as I promised ). Say what you will about the guy, he's fun to watch.
2. My podium picks sure looked solid after stage 5. Menchov won, looking stronger than I expected, and Leipheimer and Basso looked good as well. Both looked totally in control, and both played it pretty close to the vest, obviously saving some bullets for the BlockHaus and Cinque Terre stages. I can't wait to see how those two stages play out.
3. Can we put the "Cunego is a grand tour rider" thing to bed? Please? I like the guy. He's a great classics rider and he'll be a great stage hunter for the rest of his career. He's just never going to win another grand tour. I just don't see it.
4. Columbia is the bee's knees. The team time trial, two jerseys, and Mick Rogers is looking solid once again. I'd say that's a good week for the American squad.
5. Speaking of American teams, I really wish the Team Astana transformation into Team Nike Novartis Trek Livestrong had already taken place. It's a distraction to the team and it's frankly weird to see a potential winner riding for a team that will be gone at the end of the race is beyond bizarre. It'll be interesting to see where the sponsorship/ownership roulette wheel actually stops and we see what the Armstrong brand really means to cycling.

To see the art in all its glory you'll have to hit the show.