I walked in 20 degree weather this morning. I was warmly dressed and it actually felt ok! (Actually I was too warmly dressed!) Yesterday I biked in about 28 degree weather. Biking is a little colder because of he wind factor.
As long as there is not a major wind, the cold doesn't bother me too much.
We recovered from the Christmas holidays and can't believe that January 2007 is almost over! It appears 2007 will go fast.
I have been reading a biography of Abraham Lincoln (Team of Rivals) which is interesting. It is written by my favorite historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. I heard her speak at a conference and read all of her books. (At the same Confernce, I also heard Beck Weathers, which launched me on reading about mountain climbing, a subject I still enjoy reading about. It was a life-changing conference.
At work, it seems like January 2 started hectic and it hasn't slowed down! I don't mind, I enjoy being busy, but I almost haven't had time to hardly think!
Monday, January 29, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
January rains & bicycling
I was looking forward to the 3 day holiday as a time to get some "daytime" biking in. However, rain each day kind of spoiled that. (I just don't feel comfortable riding in the rain or on wet streets. I know a lot people do, and I would if I had too, but I just don't feel it's worth the risk of a fall.)
I feel kind of a guilty relief, but I can feel the effects of not riding. Fortuately, the rain is light enough I can continue my early morning walk of about 2.5 miles or so. Of course, there is always the treadmill or stationary bike (although that is at the exercise club, we have a treadmill at home), it just isn't the same.
I try to "maintain" my bike riding throughout the winter, hoping I can start some longer rides this summer. During the week, assuming I don't have a night meeting, I try to ride. However, when it gets dark so early, I always ride in the dark. I feel comfortable riding "in the dark" in my addition, but I don't like to get out of my neighborhood after dark.
Aliene tells me I look like a "Christmas Tree" going down the street with all my flashing lights, but I still don't know who might not see me. I have the regular bike lights and also have a flashing light on the front and back of my helmet and a flashing light on an arm band as well as all kind of reflective items. However all it takes is one inattentive driver!
One thing I really don't like is the "regular" bike items (that are specified for bikes) are either too small (an "XXL" at a bike shop may be a 44 chest!-usually XXL is at least 48 chest etc.), stupid (wrong way zippers, breaks easily etc.), made for a professional biker, and-Always-too expensive. I purchased my best items at Wal Mart and the Academy at about 30% of the cost of the same item "designed" for bikes.
I respect bike shops and try to buy what I can there (gloves, helmets etc.), but they all just don't have any bike clothing etc. at my size. Since I can't even change a flat tire, I need to have my bike maintained at a bike shop and I am willing to pay higher prices for bike items I need, but they even make that difficult! (I can't even ORDER larger size clothing.)
Anyway, I just hate to order clothing from the internet since I really need to see it before I buy it. Actually I feel the same about bike items. Just too many scammers out there.
(I don't even order books off the Internet anymore. They arrive damaged etc. and then I have to go to the trouble of returning them etc.). Fortunately, I have a Barnes & Noble a mile away and a Borders several miles away, but I still haven't found a bike shop with decent clothing, at any price.
I bought my bicycle at a local bike shop with the full expectation they would keep it repaired and maintained. They have done well thus far, thank goodness!
Anyway, summer is coming and I have plenty of t-shirts, which is all I need for summer riding!
I feel kind of a guilty relief, but I can feel the effects of not riding. Fortuately, the rain is light enough I can continue my early morning walk of about 2.5 miles or so. Of course, there is always the treadmill or stationary bike (although that is at the exercise club, we have a treadmill at home), it just isn't the same.
I try to "maintain" my bike riding throughout the winter, hoping I can start some longer rides this summer. During the week, assuming I don't have a night meeting, I try to ride. However, when it gets dark so early, I always ride in the dark. I feel comfortable riding "in the dark" in my addition, but I don't like to get out of my neighborhood after dark.
Aliene tells me I look like a "Christmas Tree" going down the street with all my flashing lights, but I still don't know who might not see me. I have the regular bike lights and also have a flashing light on the front and back of my helmet and a flashing light on an arm band as well as all kind of reflective items. However all it takes is one inattentive driver!
One thing I really don't like is the "regular" bike items (that are specified for bikes) are either too small (an "XXL" at a bike shop may be a 44 chest!-usually XXL is at least 48 chest etc.), stupid (wrong way zippers, breaks easily etc.), made for a professional biker, and-Always-too expensive. I purchased my best items at Wal Mart and the Academy at about 30% of the cost of the same item "designed" for bikes.
I respect bike shops and try to buy what I can there (gloves, helmets etc.), but they all just don't have any bike clothing etc. at my size. Since I can't even change a flat tire, I need to have my bike maintained at a bike shop and I am willing to pay higher prices for bike items I need, but they even make that difficult! (I can't even ORDER larger size clothing.)
Anyway, I just hate to order clothing from the internet since I really need to see it before I buy it. Actually I feel the same about bike items. Just too many scammers out there.
(I don't even order books off the Internet anymore. They arrive damaged etc. and then I have to go to the trouble of returning them etc.). Fortunately, I have a Barnes & Noble a mile away and a Borders several miles away, but I still haven't found a bike shop with decent clothing, at any price.
I bought my bicycle at a local bike shop with the full expectation they would keep it repaired and maintained. They have done well thus far, thank goodness!
Anyway, summer is coming and I have plenty of t-shirts, which is all I need for summer riding!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
January Thoughts
I am surprised when I see how little I write, or at least how infrequent I write. I keep a personal journal daily and fequently write thoughts in another journal.
Perhaps knowing that your thoughts are literally public restrains me a little!
The weather to the west hasn't hit here, although we do hae "rain" ather than "snow" or "ice. Anyway the wesather is really nice!
Ever since January 2, it has really been busy at work, I guess catching up with everything we didn't do over the Holidays!
Looking back over the year, we really enjoy our house and are glad we seleced this house and this addition. As a general rule I don't make "Resolutions", and I didn't this year. I do hope to keep losing weight etc.
Perhaps knowing that your thoughts are literally public restrains me a little!
The weather to the west hasn't hit here, although we do hae "rain" ather than "snow" or "ice. Anyway the wesather is really nice!
Ever since January 2, it has really been busy at work, I guess catching up with everything we didn't do over the Holidays!
Looking back over the year, we really enjoy our house and are glad we seleced this house and this addition. As a general rule I don't make "Resolutions", and I didn't this year. I do hope to keep losing weight etc.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
2007 Thoughts
I was surprised to suddenly realize yesterday (Saturday, January 6) that I no longer had that little cough I have had for years! I realized it when I drank my first "diet Pepsi" for several months and started coughing! I guess the advise to not drink carbonated beverages was good advice for my “GERD”. Coffee is also supposed to affect me, but I’ve found I can drink some coffee during the day (I don’t drink my 10 cups before I go to work anymore!) and it doesn’t seem to adversely affect me or at least I can live with the consequences. I have it mostly under control.
Overall, we had a great Christmas and New Year’s. We were in OKC for Christmas and enjoyed ourselves and seeing everyone. New Years’ we spent in Lakeland at a local dance and had a good time.
Weather here has been great with some rain (but no snow!) and an occasional cool day, but otherwise, if there has to be Winter, this is a good way to do it!
I’ve been trying to catch up on my reading as well as work. It seems everything slows down over the Holidays and then goes into hyper-time afterwards.
Overall, we had a great Christmas and New Year’s. We were in OKC for Christmas and enjoyed ourselves and seeing everyone. New Years’ we spent in Lakeland at a local dance and had a good time.
Weather here has been great with some rain (but no snow!) and an occasional cool day, but otherwise, if there has to be Winter, this is a good way to do it!
I’ve been trying to catch up on my reading as well as work. It seems everything slows down over the Holidays and then goes into hyper-time afterwards.
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