April Showers

It has been a common April with daily showers last week. Now the sun is out and I have been working in the yard. Already cut the grass in the back twice this year. I took down the temporary kennel fencing from the yard. Ship-po is hardly the terror to the lawn and trees that Tun-Tun was. We'll see what happens.

Tun-Tun's futon mattress is still in the basement. The other day Ship-po stuck her nose deep into the mattress and started frantically digging. We were planning to throw it out but haven't gotten around to it.

Hope to get out riding today. Give the bike a good wash and put on the new tires. Maybe I'll just put on the front and put the old front tire on the back. The front tires wear much slower. I could also use a new front derailleur if I had the money. Sure it works fine know, but come the heat of the race it fails to drop into the small ring. Or should I say never fails not to.

I heard that TV slows your metabolism. Could that be the reason for my Winter weight gain? Long cold dark nights in front of the TV, nurturing my nature deficit disorder. It also means long warm summer days. Get out and ride!

When it Rains it Pours

Not necessarily but the Tea party in Madison seems to have been a great success. Photographs have revealed an attendance of nearly 9,000. Above is a picture I snapped with my wife's cell phone. It was unusually easy to get my wife to come along. I think she wanted to see the 'radio lady' speak. Reports, or right wing chatter in government speak, are a million people nation wide came out on April 15th.

It is overcast and raining off and on but the amounts are small. It has been an unusually dry Spring and this light rain wont help much. The ground has been bone dry. Have been working on the yard. I started getting the garden ready for planting. Brought the begonia up out of the basement. Prepared some pots for planting.

But haven't gotten out riding much. I've been tired and run down. But I did get by the construction at the Hoyt Park Trails the other day. They put in a narrow fenced off path and I found much of the trail still intact on the other side. A happy surprise.

My wife and I were out the other night and on the radio BBC World reported on Afghanistan's new law requiring women to be intimate with their husbands at least once every four days and not to go out without telling them.

My wife didn't catch it all and asked "What country is that?"

In a deliberate continuous monotone, "The United States." I answered.

She paused confused, and asked under her breadth, "Which state?"

Then she burst out laughing.

I'd be out on my bike doing errands today and getting to the gym but it is cold and wet and my wife is out with the car as usual.

Opening Day

Yes, tomorrow is Easter but that's not the opening day I am speaking of. The Brewers had their home opener at Miller Park on Good Friday. And it is always nice to beat Chicago. I tried to spend more time outdoors and less on the computer yesterday and went for a ride after 3:00. Yard/garden work and riding will be the priority these next few weeks. It is still too cold to open up the house and start on repairs.

Opening day also means more broken glass in the streets, namely beer bottles.

Today I saw a large group of riders of all ages at the Hoyt Park trails. They came by car, several, and were loading up their bicycles. Though the trail is not much more than two miles it is a nice ride for a family to share. Unfortunately the majority of the trail has been closed for most of the year as they are doing flood control work. Actually... the whole back end of the trail is cleared and graded.

I went around to the back of the retention ponds and found some informal trails on the county grounds. Trails I had heard of and seen pictures of on the blogs of others but have never actual rode until today. It took me a while to find my way out.

I'm determined to push this last month before the season starts and to get under 250lbs. And then there is always race prep. I should order some sport drink and energy bars for the season. I found an interesting article on the night before race classic; pasta.

Happy Easter!

Tun-Tun?

Phillip wird zwar sofort erkennen, dass dies nicht sein Tun-Tun ist, aber mich hat dieser fremde Hund sofort an Tun-Tun erinnert ...

Holy Week

Yes, the United States still is a Judeo-Christian nation contrary to rumors otherwise.

It is Spring and it is sunny. Still a bit cold but things are coming alive. It is also Holy Week with its corresponding remembrances and celebrations.

We went to a funeral this morning. A very good man, always friendly and concerned. Most all the neighborhood was there. At least those who have been here for some time. He died on Palm Sunday. It is not easy to be a good person and they are honored too rarely in our popular culture.

I have to get out riding everyday to some extent. No time to take it easy now. I upgraded my USA Cycling license to category 2 (MTB) and registered for Sport Class on WORS. The nearby WEMS races are early in the season. I am hoping to get to at least one of our State trails on a regular basis, even if I can't make it to the race there. If anyone is free weekdays and wants to share the gas cost let me know.

Working into the new schedule. And trying to get Misao out for some tennis. Almost got her to ride Sunday but it was still a bit cold for her.

The Scoop

Yes, we are quickly approaching the end of International Pooper Scooper Week. But we just use plastic bags. Where would we be if the grocers went back to just paper? Well we'd be stuck with spending our money on plastic bags. What waste.

In the past I have made schedules to organize my time. The problem is I can start a project on the house, or helping some one I know, keeping to the task until it is finished, rendering the schedule completely useless. But I opened the old Excel and made another today. I'm sure this time will be different because I shaded the cells with pretty colors. It is important now since I have to focus on production rather than trying to hire myself out as an independent contractor, as far as my professional pursuits in Architecture go. I'm not sure how the British can pronounce schedule the way they do. I've tried and there is just something unnatural about it.

I gave myself an hour for lunch and dog. A quick prep and eat and then run the dog through some drills for 15 minutes or so or until she loses interest. You can't push a dog when they lose interest or get confused. Just have to come back to it the next day.

I was always a person to keep the dogs outside but my wife is very different. She brings them in and babies them. She always made sure Tun-Tun was kept warm after he grew old. I have a plan for remodeling the garage and putting in a kennel. But it sure feels safer with a dog sleeping in the house. Ship-po is starting to eat without being coaxed. We take her for walks nearly every day, sometimes twice. Ship-po is more Misao's dog than mine, but she knows who the boss is.

Went to the doctor to check out a few things. Had to take the bus home since my wife always hogs the car. Did you know they don't give out transfers anymore in Chicago? He recommended that the best thing for back pain is to strengthen the core. He prefers yoga. Still have a bad spot in my back after that smack down at Crystal Ridge last year. The Doc suspects it is muscular rather than with the back itself.

It looks like I will have a clear 1,000+ hits on my site over the last year when June 11th comes around. That is when I added a counter. With all the useful information and insight encompassing the vast diversity of life's interests, not to mention human drama and an unmatched wit, I'm surprised I don't have thousands upon thousands reading.

Obviously....

My readers don't like sharing.