Happy Thanksgiving

Not John Madden's six legged beast but turducken all the same. Something I always wanted to try. I think someone came up with the idea just to find a way to cook a duck without it drying out. If we get the chance to go shopping today I'll be making rice pudding this evening.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Having no lights for my bike I will not be going on that Thanksgiving Tradition among some; The Turkey Hurl. I will also not be shopping on Black Friday, or Saturday cause we got no money. Have to decide if we will put up Christmas lights outdoors after Thanksgiving.

I can't stand the decorating for Christmas prior to Thanksgiving. And those radio stations...! I heard one was playing Christmas music before Halloween. We accidentally came upon an all Christmas music station the other night and before I could change the station I was hooked. All the happy merry warm and lovey season sentiments. So I'm stuck on Christmas music... at least until I hear that Christmas shoes song.

The hunting season is here and I am stuck at home with one vehicle among us and strapped for resources. This was from about ten days ago, a bow kill unless there was a special hunt going on. Ground venison is magnificent in a spaghetti sauce. Maybe next year.

Now Misao actually wants to see "Ninja Assassin" tomorrow, since we have no other plans to date. The star is her heart throb; or me minus 70 pounds. She thinks my hair is too long and wants to shave off all my wavy locks of silver and gold. And recalling the bike shoe incident I think it wise not to protest, but it still wont make me 70 pounds lighter. Maybe she wants to auction off my hair on e-bay.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

This, That and Everything Else

November has been good for riding so far but the snow will soon fly. I saw them taking out the shoring at Hoyt Park last week. A sure sign that the construction there is winding down. Prior to that, our entire Wisconsin congregation met out Lapham Peak's way. I took my bike and trail pass along but didn't get the chance to ride. The front tire was flat anyway. My second flat in one week. A bad valve. Not an uncommon ailment for the bontrager brand, though the tube lasted the season. I went to another trail work day this Saturday. It most likely was the last for this year.

Next year's WEMS and WORS schedules are out. So even though I competed in only three races and attended three more, what have I learned from this 2009 racing season? First that the buckwheat soba noodle is most excellent for a pasta boost the night before a race. I attribute it to producing my best race of the season where no hill was left unclimbed from the saddle. That ginseng is always good, but that rooibos tea has great benefits beyond what they claim.

Here is another picture from the Sheboygan Wigwam Ultimax. Team Alterra, known for putting training and race prep ahead of trail work, and a home grown business success story. And Rishi is another home grown company experting in tea. We really enjoyed this tea in the picture. It is amazing how Milwaukee produces such fine companies including restaurants, that strive for the highest standards. People here really take pride in their work and are committed to the region almost beyond reason. If not, with all our taxes and restrictions on business, Wisconsin would be Michigan.

Yes, I haven't written much in a while so maybe I'll have to cover all my blogs in this one post. And yes, Windows 7 wasn't much of an improvement.

In my pursuit of the life of reckless disregard I not only watch 'Poker After Dark' after work, but play online poker at the same time. Most sites have free tournaments to qualify for TV Poker shows going on now.

It looks like it will be a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving this year as our oven is not working and no respectable turkey would fit in the convection/microwave oven we have been using. But with the Macy's Parade, a dog show and plenty of football on TV, including the Packers, how could it not be a good day. How can anyone live in this great nation and not be thankful.

A movie is always an option. And I'm sure with the holiday opening of "Ninja Assassin" it is certain to become a holiday classic... or not.The time of year when we will find "It's a Wonderful Life" on TV multiple times a week if not every day. A true classic that was unappreciated in its time but has become a favorite around the world. And I heard they made a novella into a movie. I believe it is called "A Christmas Carol."

The 'Beer Man' is looking for a small pickup for $3K abouts. Almost anything that runs. Of course I am always looking for a job. A good firm with good people who can work rather than sit in meetings all day. An office where everyone spontaneously breaks out in song and dance every now and then. Top hats and canes required... tails optional.

Indian Summer

A lazy Saturday. Made all the more sweet after surviving a Friday the 13th without suffering any nightmares, getting caught in a murderous maze or stirring the ire of any hockey masked punks. But not so lazy in that we worked last night and will be working tonight. And with the short days I will have to be getting out soon if I want to catch a ride today, as it has been a week with days above 50 or more. And it looks like more mild days to come.

On the first of these Indian Summer days I was anxious to get out for a good ride. Misao was fixed to the computer, feeding her Internet addiction, when I called out, "Where's my bike shoes!"

She didn't answer and I called out louder, ... and then louder. She came marching downstairs, as the computer is upstairs, and as she came into my office. I spotted my shoes in the paper recycling box (no, I don't wear paper shoes). I picked them up and said, "Here they are."

Then bam!

... Misao hit me. She hit me square on the back and a sharp pain pierced my spine. I thought certain that if not broken the imminent swelling would cause some kind of paralysis if only temporary. I questioned whether to go on my ride, not wanting to collapse helpless in the roadway or worse on some obscure trail where it could take days to be found.

But I rode anyway. And have had many days of riding satisfaction.

Emery's has started their Winter training sessions. I seriously have to make a plan for my aerobic training this Winter. Either getting a trainer or spend many an hour at the gym. Have to work back into the strength training too.

I will be missing deer hunting this year in more ways than one. The bow hunters have been out enjoying the rut for a couple weeks. Hunting is far more expensive than one can imagine. The ammunition, getting out to a range to practice and site in your gun on a regular basis (the closest range is over an hour drive). Traveling to and managing your land to maximize your chances. And all the equipment, the lodging and food, not to mention the processing costs. Similar to a season of racing. But I consider the bicycling higher in health benefits. Still I'm wearing my blaze orange gear when I get the chance.

I really miss getting up to our property. The clean air and water and not only deer but plenty of fowl and rabbit to hunt. Or just clearing the land to promote growth in the strongest and most desirable trees.

They have an all terrain unicyclist on TV right now. My back still hurts.


Here is another picture from Sheboygan. Windows 7 seems to work slightly better; very slightly.

I Ran Out of Duct Tape

Not that there is a shortage in the world. And the oven doesn't work any more. The water heaters are long past their life expectancy as is my CPAP machine. That's over $5K to replace. I still haven't gotten to the dentist, but Misao will be finishing up her dental work soon.


So naturally we didn't buy any candy for Halloween. We hid out till trick or treat was over. It was a comparatively quiet Halloween this year. The bar parties on our route were only on the day itself this year. Some years they seemed to go nonstop for a week.


Having upset the duct work in the basement with repairs and such, I was straightening and refitting the ducts when I ran out of tape. Yes, believe it or not I was actually using duct tape on ducts. A quick call and Misao brought some home with her. Sealing up the system to maximize the efficienabilities. New insulation and a new door should save us some coin this Winter. Can't skip on the Christmas gifts.




Winter... How to train? Emery's is going to have Winter training sessions in Menominee Falls. The cost in gas is a bit much for me to think of going. I didn't get to the Halloween cyclocross to take pictures either. Had to go to the dump. A picture from Sheboygan this year. Our You/Tube has the video with the double take taken out.


The scale is tipping up and I have to get back to the gym on a regular basis. Most likely wont have a trainer this year outside of declaring bankruptcy. Of course we are looking at beautiful weather coming in a few days. Have to get the riding in when I can, after I clean and maintain the bikes, and buy a couple gallons of roofing cement to patch the roof while it's warm.

And still no 'Windows 7.' The recovery disk creation program needed to set up to install '7' kept failing so I had to call HP to have them send me a set of recovery disks. They came today. Will try tonight or tomorrow. We'll see what happens finally.