I do think that it was warmer out today than forecast (surprise, surprise!). While the forecast indicated snow/sleet and general nastiness today, there was sunshine and a temperature in the mid to upper 30's. Not too bad on the wind either ... all in all, a pleasant surprise and, of course, well worth a smile.
Tonight I sing ...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
3600 (Cold) Miles Reached Today
Good riding today as the temperature was in the 40's (rather than the 27 degrees of yesterday). Looks like we're going to start being in a regular deep freeze situation now as winter is nudging its way into the room. C'mon global warming (except, of course, for Rush and all the ditto-heads out there that believe it's all a UN and Liberal "sky is falling" conspiracy).
Otherwise, a quiet day ... although I did stop out and get a new chain which I will probably put on the bike sometime in the next few weeks. First I have to double check the chain stretch and the number of miles on this chain, but I think it's just over 1,000 ... so it's probably good for awhile yet.
Later ...
Otherwise, a quiet day ... although I did stop out and get a new chain which I will probably put on the bike sometime in the next few weeks. First I have to double check the chain stretch and the number of miles on this chain, but I think it's just over 1,000 ... so it's probably good for awhile yet.
Later ...
Friday, November 23, 2007
Very Cool Ride
Yesterday (Thanksgiving Day, 2007) was a very cool (temperature) one for riding. It was 30 degrees with about a 15 mph north wind. However, when riding north it feels good to get there and realize that heading back will be much easier. But winter's definitely coming and I don't think it will be much fun to ride at colder than 30 degrees. It might be OK, though, if I limit myself to less than an hour of riding. I noticed that things (on me) got considerable colder when riding for 1.5 hours in yesterday's conditions. So riding my standard 14.2 mile workout ride might be just fine for sub-30 temperatures. Also, I tried out my new riding tights (Pearl Izumi) and they worked very well. I may stop by the bicycle shop today again and see if there's a better pair of riding gloves there. Protecting the extremities is the key to cold temperature riding.
Today should be fun ... at least after I'm done with laundry. It was cold overnight though (mid-teen's) and I think it's possible that golf is over with for the calendar year.
Later ...
Today should be fun ... at least after I'm done with laundry. It was cold overnight though (mid-teen's) and I think it's possible that golf is over with for the calendar year.
Later ...
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Still Golfing and 3520 Miles
Had a great time golfing on Monday at the Riverside Casino golf course. That's a tough layout and it seems to work best to hit very relaxed, conservative shots. But it's probably a lot worse earlier in the year when the rough is much higher.
Turned 3520 miles today on the bicycle. Pretty foggy out and it rained most of the way but at least the temperature was in the mid to high 40's. Tomorrow will be cooler as the forecast says snow is expected. Don't know if the road will support a ride tomorrow but I plan to try.
New recipe time is here as I try out a Dutch Apple Streusel recipe for Thanksgiving. I got apples today and everything else is ready ... hope it turns out OK.
Not sure how long I'll stay at work tomorrow (Wednesday) as we have Thursday and Friday off for Thanksgiving and it's always nice to get a headstart on a holiday. Well, time for an early turnin as I need to get some good sleep tonight.
... later ...
Turned 3520 miles today on the bicycle. Pretty foggy out and it rained most of the way but at least the temperature was in the mid to high 40's. Tomorrow will be cooler as the forecast says snow is expected. Don't know if the road will support a ride tomorrow but I plan to try.
New recipe time is here as I try out a Dutch Apple Streusel recipe for Thanksgiving. I got apples today and everything else is ready ... hope it turns out OK.
Not sure how long I'll stay at work tomorrow (Wednesday) as we have Thursday and Friday off for Thanksgiving and it's always nice to get a headstart on a holiday. Well, time for an early turnin as I need to get some good sleep tonight.
... later ...
Saturday, November 10, 2007
3400 Miles ... With Smiles
Reached 3411 miles today (for the year) on the bicycle. Cold riding at 39 degrees but I now have some warmer gloves and head gear to make everything tolerable, even with substantial wind, down to about 32 degrees.
With global warming it seems more and more possible that year round riding could happen, even here in Iowa. Well, we'll see.
Last night went out to Shellsburg to see Tom and Wilma at their karaoke show and did a little dancing along with the singing. It was great. Also, after getting home, tested my hand at making a Cosmopolitan. Pretty good drink, I must say, but something like kool-aid in ease of going down. Have to be careful not to overdo those things!
Today I also did some PC update work but nothing too challenging. Tomorrow I'll probably do some more and I'm debating whether to go out singing tonight or not. Gets to be just too much smoke in those bars and it does affect my voice (as well as my lungs, I'm sure). Again, I'll have to decide that in a little while here ... but it's always fun to see friends out there.
Later.
With global warming it seems more and more possible that year round riding could happen, even here in Iowa. Well, we'll see.
Last night went out to Shellsburg to see Tom and Wilma at their karaoke show and did a little dancing along with the singing. It was great. Also, after getting home, tested my hand at making a Cosmopolitan. Pretty good drink, I must say, but something like kool-aid in ease of going down. Have to be careful not to overdo those things!
Today I also did some PC update work but nothing too challenging. Tomorrow I'll probably do some more and I'm debating whether to go out singing tonight or not. Gets to be just too much smoke in those bars and it does affect my voice (as well as my lungs, I'm sure). Again, I'll have to decide that in a little while here ... but it's always fun to see friends out there.
Later.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Windy - No Ride Today
Today the winds out there are significant, exceeding 40 mph from the northwest. At that level, it's just not safe to ride on the roads around here so I'm taking a day off riding. This evening I'll have a bite to eat with a friend and then go out to sing, as is my custom. It will, however, be nice when Iowa finally passes a law to forbid smoking in all public places. I do worry about second hand smoke in bars and it also keeps me from spending as much time out singing as I would like. Actually, it's probably a good thing as I do get more things done here at home.
Speaking of "home", there's a small water spot on the ceiling in the dining room. It happens to be directly below a vent pipe the goes up through the roof. I've got a ladder up in the garage and went into the attic to check it out and get more details. I do know that I'd never noticed this water spot before the roof installation, so I'm pretty sure (but not 100%) that it occurred during that procedure. My guess is that the roof seal around the vent pipe wasn't perfect and there were several days of very heavy rain while the roof was being installed. I think some water made it through and I'm seeing the results of that. Now, however, the roof is completed and the problem should not recur. I'll have to take a look at it during a rainstorm but it's a real pain to get up there. I've also noticed that there is no vapor barrier in the attic, which I find to be unusual but I don't know that it's a big deal. Short of re-insulating, however, I'm not planning to address that right now ... nor do I think lack of a vapor barrier had anything to do with the water stain. So I think I'll paint the stain over and then see what happens as time goes by. H-mmm, I could also do a check sometime by running water from a hose down the roof in that area and see if it's sealed perfectly.
For now everything's a mess around here as I weigh the options so I think I'll proceed with painting the ceiling stain and then consider what to do next.
Later ...
Speaking of "home", there's a small water spot on the ceiling in the dining room. It happens to be directly below a vent pipe the goes up through the roof. I've got a ladder up in the garage and went into the attic to check it out and get more details. I do know that I'd never noticed this water spot before the roof installation, so I'm pretty sure (but not 100%) that it occurred during that procedure. My guess is that the roof seal around the vent pipe wasn't perfect and there were several days of very heavy rain while the roof was being installed. I think some water made it through and I'm seeing the results of that. Now, however, the roof is completed and the problem should not recur. I'll have to take a look at it during a rainstorm but it's a real pain to get up there. I've also noticed that there is no vapor barrier in the attic, which I find to be unusual but I don't know that it's a big deal. Short of re-insulating, however, I'm not planning to address that right now ... nor do I think lack of a vapor barrier had anything to do with the water stain. So I think I'll paint the stain over and then see what happens as time goes by. H-mmm, I could also do a check sometime by running water from a hose down the roof in that area and see if it's sealed perfectly.
For now everything's a mess around here as I weigh the options so I think I'll proceed with painting the ceiling stain and then consider what to do next.
Later ...
Saturday, November 3, 2007
R.I.P. (Rust In Peace) Celica & 3300 Miles
Got a note from Ryan today. He got the Celica to a junkyard and got $175 for it. But it was the third one he tried as the first two junkyards just said "no thanks" haha. Well, that episode is finally complete as the Celica had been in our family since September 12, 1986. Pictures are forthcoming on Ryan's picture website.
Today I turned 3300 miles on the bicycle. But I have to say that I really didn't want to work out today. Well, that happens from time to time. But I did it anyway. Also spent a few hours working with Larry getting data at the driving range on how spin on the golf ball impacts the carry and roll of the hit with different clubs. Many hours of data collection are needed to get enough of a sample to be significant but at least we have a start and something to work with to make sure all the right parameters are being monitored.
Well, just another weekend, I guess. I think I'll go out and get some matte board for a little project I need to work on.
Oh, and just a little public service announcement (if you might've been living in a cave or have just been too busy to pay attention) ... be sure to set your clocks back today as we switch back to Standard time tomorrow morning (Sunday, November 4). I'd vote to leave the time system on Daylight Saving all year round and stop messing with the clocks twice a year. Well, I would *if* I had a vote.
Later ...
Today I turned 3300 miles on the bicycle. But I have to say that I really didn't want to work out today. Well, that happens from time to time. But I did it anyway. Also spent a few hours working with Larry getting data at the driving range on how spin on the golf ball impacts the carry and roll of the hit with different clubs. Many hours of data collection are needed to get enough of a sample to be significant but at least we have a start and something to work with to make sure all the right parameters are being monitored.
Well, just another weekend, I guess. I think I'll go out and get some matte board for a little project I need to work on.
Oh, and just a little public service announcement (if you might've been living in a cave or have just been too busy to pay attention) ... be sure to set your clocks back today as we switch back to Standard time tomorrow morning (Sunday, November 4). I'd vote to leave the time system on Daylight Saving all year round and stop messing with the clocks twice a year. Well, I would *if* I had a vote.
Later ...
Friday, November 2, 2007
Interesting Week, Very Interesting ...
Although I didn't ride today, I predict that I'll hit 3300 miles this weekend. It's colder and the cold is typically accompanied by wind, so that really is something that tries to talk me out of riding. Well, I am resolute and shall not be defeated! (hehe) I also discovered that there was a bit too much play in the rear wheel bearings after the bike shop replaced them for me two weeks ago Monday. So I tweaked that a bit and it is good now. If those aren't set just right, there will be excessive wear on the bearing races and that's just not something I'm OK with letting slide.
This week, I found an old friend ... or, perhaps, my friend found me. Either way, it's been a good week and one that I'll never forget.
Tomorrow I'm going out to the golf place to work with Larry and some other folks as we try to gather experimental data on what effect spin on the golf ball has as far as carry and roll with various clubs (including all the way from wedge to driver). Hopefully this won't consume all the good part of the day as I'd like to catch some of the Iowa game and I need time to get a bicycle ride in. But it's an interesting question and there doesn't seem to be much data on it out on the internet (according to Larry).
But tonight, well, tonight is a time to sing. And I got my hair cut today! Think I might head over to Papa Juan's to get started a bit early and then I have to decide about whether to go out to Shellsburg as Mike is doing a show out there ... but it's almost an hour's worth of driving to get out there and back, so it's not that exciting to me (and the bar there is very smoky).
This week, I found an old friend ... or, perhaps, my friend found me. Either way, it's been a good week and one that I'll never forget.
Tomorrow I'm going out to the golf place to work with Larry and some other folks as we try to gather experimental data on what effect spin on the golf ball has as far as carry and roll with various clubs (including all the way from wedge to driver). Hopefully this won't consume all the good part of the day as I'd like to catch some of the Iowa game and I need time to get a bicycle ride in. But it's an interesting question and there doesn't seem to be much data on it out on the internet (according to Larry).
But tonight, well, tonight is a time to sing. And I got my hair cut today! Think I might head over to Papa Juan's to get started a bit early and then I have to decide about whether to go out to Shellsburg as Mike is doing a show out there ... but it's almost an hour's worth of driving to get out there and back, so it's not that exciting to me (and the bar there is very smoky).
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