Happy Halloween

Yes I am all set apparently to attain a concealed carry permit. Going through an old wallet I found my hunter’s safety certificate, along with a ticket to the World Trade Center from many a year past. Something I thought I would never find. Of course I cannot currently afford the whole buying a sidearm and becoming proficient at it. Not because becoming truly proficient is required, but because I would demand it of myself. The ammunition and range fees are not cheap.

Has it really been five years since I’ve gone hunting? I have been pulling out my hunting wear, finding all sorts of neat survival gear in the pockets. Plenty of road kill, dead deer, on the roads this time of year with the rut on. Too late to plan a hunting trip this year. My guns could use a good cleaning as they have been sitting idle now for years.

The short days and long nights, the blustery cold winds and dark clouds, make this time of year a time to spend indoors, and the TV show producers are taking advantage with a slew of new shows. Some of a dark nature. Misao has declared with great vigor “Revenge” as ‘our’ show. Sometimes my wife scares me.

And if all this not scary enough, what’s going on with our food? The packaging holds smaller portions. The olive oil Misao buys has changed from glass to plastic bottling. Yet prices still rise. Then among all this the most insidious, hideous and suspicious of all plots unfolds before our very eyes. Wendy’s, that fast food staple now run by Dave’s daughter …Wendy, is now producing their big and tasty burgers. Burgers that actually look like what they have been showing us over these many decades in advertising. One can only imagine the reasoning, the devious intention behind such a tempting offering.

Could things get any worse; more foreboding? Answer me this. How could the garden fencing above be older than that shown to the left? The newer product broken and covered in rust while the older remains clear and strong, standing bold against the elements. Two words that strike fear in the hearts of all men are to blame; Martha Stewart. Yes, these are Kmart products. The more durable (older) of the two bought when Martha Stewart endorsed their garden product line.

Martha Stewart’s influence may seem benign but the controlling reach of her arts and crafts cabal is unmatched throughout the world.

Yes, the days are growing short and dark and reviewing my exercise log I found I hadn’t gone out for a ride in an extremely long time; weeks. So I ventured one day on my mountain bike to an eerie stretch of trail I heard of referred to once as ‘the art trail.’ Part of a social ride long past I have never heard of this ‘art trail’ mentioned since. The horrors of the ordeal obviously blotted out the experience, from the minds of those in attendance. A trail I first found and road under the encouragement of my wife as we were on a ride together. Advantageous to us, though we couldn’t concieve of why at the time, we flew by the one inhabitant standing watch before he knew we were there. Not knowing the nature of the diet of the inhabitants of this hidden neglected stretch of land, and me with my well marbled bullish frame, we counted ourselves fortunate to pass without incident. This is Wisconsin after all.

The arts and crafts nature of the totems that line this path of peril point to a single allegiance, to a figure of craftiness, a dictator of aesthetics; Martha Stewart. And if she has joined forces with Wendy …

What unholy reverence could this alter of handcraft be devoted to?

And what was the fate of the rider of this bicycle, now set in prominence over the trail as if some kind of trophy. Yes, I took  my life into my own hands once more to capture these images. If only in the hope of providing a warning to those who may unintentionally come upon this trail of terror. That recognizing these images they would venture no further, but in consideration of their loved ones turn around and be saved. No. I will not tell you the location of this terrifying trek lest the fool hearted take it upon themselves to test fate. Yet, these arts and crafts omens of doom can be found here and there along most all bike trails, even those so well used as the Hank Aaron Trail. So prevalent is their reach, need I be watchful for my well being? Would this cabal of arts and crafts, and suspicious dietary practices look to silence any and all who would expose them to the light of day?

Having exposed this evil in our midst, if this be my final post, if you are never to be blessed with the inspired flow of wisdom and unmatched knowledge my words convey, never seeking personal reward or gratification for myself, you’ll know why.

Happy Halloween!

Windy ! !! !!! ! ! ! !

The winds have been tormenting this last week. Especially hard on one when working outside all day as I have been doing much of the past week. But the winds, the skies, the temperatures and the fates for some were all wonderfully aligned for WORS’ final event of the season. Sponsored by Wigwam, one of the premiere producers of the stuff that goes under your athletic footwear, and I’m not talking about your feet. Fat Kats, the producers of this, one of the greatest of WORS events, did a great job as always.

The joys of mountain bike riding are only outdone by those of pushing. I have some good video and pictures that I will eventually get up on Flickr and You/Tube for those who want to look for any images of themselves. A Winter project that will require me to subscribe $$$ again to Flickr so I can organize the photos for the convenience of visitors. I arrived as the Citizen class was finishing and left after catching some video of the Elite starts.

An odd job left me feeling old. My body ached after the first day of trenching through dirt and clay. But feeling much better after the second day, then the third and having no real aches or pains after the fourth made me feel confident in my persistent youth. This and the Sweetest Day flower stand, standing out in the severe winds for two days, wore on me but I do enjoy the elements. Hope to get to our forest land up north before Winter sets in. And all signs are this is going to be a severe Winter for us here in the Midwest.

Sometimes my knees bother me. My right when I go down stairs and my left when I go up ladders. Not often, but it gives me concern. I find that loose fitting footwear may be the culprit so I avoid the loafers and sandals these days. It is barefoot or a firmly laced shoe. I believe I heard something on the radio some time back to the same effect. All I know is when I wear anything that lets my foot slide the knee pain frequents.


Of course the joys of grilled meat were far from absent at this latest WORS event, The MTB Challenge, leaving me with a difficult decision; beef burgers or brats? I went with a burger as our finances still don’t allow for me to splurge. When I got back to our friends house in Sheboygan I was treated to Johsonville brat burgers; The best of both worlds. And better yet my wife found bacon for $2/lb. shopping with her friend. The odd jobs I catch are also due to my friends. It is good to have friends.


I have concern over my health though on my latest doctors visit the basic numbers on blood pressure and such were all good. It is some digestive pain issues I have not been able to get checked out properly that concern me, but my weight needs to be addressed also. This Winter will be the critical turning point for my future health. I have not gone down in weight as I usually do every summer as I have been to preoccupied to train and compete nearly as much as in the past. Usual my weight rises every Winter without fail and I have been averaging overall five pounds heavier every year for the last many years. I must reverse this trend and this Winter, hopefully with the help of a trainer for my bike, I must determine to bring my weight down. Yes, William Shatner is overweight with a frame similar to mine and looks young and vibrant at eighty years old, but I think it best I try to drop about fifty pounds at least.


Happy Birthday to Misao! Her brother in Japan now has become a bit of a blogger. Next time I’ll put up some videos.

Golden Harvest

I really should take my camera out on my weekly route. The fields are turning gold, the pumpkins are stockpiled along the sides of the road for sale to anxious youth shining in their gleaming autumn orange and the leaves are beginning to turn. The weather is beautiful. I hope this Indian Summer does not mean an early Winter though it will get me to writing a lot more on my book(s).

My weekly drive also takes me by the Trek facilities here in Wisconsin as well as the major beekeeping equipment suppliers in the state. I miss keeping bees. The small towns have some very interesting small bike shops with rustic allure.

With competing out of my mind for this year the training has dropped in priority, though I am looking forward to our trip to Sheboygan this Sunday. I hope to get some good shots and video from the WORS race and Misao will be visiting with friends there. Hopefully the colors will be at their peak making the trip truly enjoyable on most every level. Hope to have many great pictures to share.

House repairs… They are unending. I filled this crack with a 3M product. The crack was there before the mud jacking of the garage apron which was done well. I took a masonry chisel and widened the crack so the patching cement, that came in caulking tubes, could really get into the crack and have its own solid presence, and the process also provided a clean surface. I vacuumed and brushed it out. It’s how you prepare a crack for repair. The learning never stops here. Learning and sharing about how to do things well is part of what makes life a joy. The cement product was a bit rubbery so I don’t have any after pictures. Didn’t trowel well (maybe I waited too long). But it doesn’t look too bad. I may grind it down smooth later.

I asked Misao to be more careful about spending money on frivolous things. She said she doesn’t. Another plus for Sunday, race day, is that the Packers play in the evening; Sunday Night Football. I knew the Detroit Lions would come back and beat the Dallas Cowboys last week because the Packers are never allowed to sit free and clear as leaders of the Central Division (is it the North Division now?). Misao bought two of these plastic popcorn tubs for football season. The Packers and Lions are now the only two undefeated teams, for all you international readers who might not be keeping up with football. The real football that all real men follow.

I have been considering going back to school for a Masters in a year or two. Today they have an open house for potential graduate students but I am unable to make most of the activities as our car is in the shop again. Just when you start to get ahead something happens.

Shopping around for a good trainer I see that those computerized models where you can follow routes on your computer or TV screen are not as expensive as I thought. You can even race others over the Internet. My Capitalist Watch List in the sidebar has Internet sellers that have some systems on sale. It looks like if you get a good sales price you could get one with all the necessary accessories for under $1,000. Still too expensive for me right now, but you never know what the future holds. I know the best computerized trainers run several thousand.

The Brewers are going for it all this afternoon. If they win they are in, if they lose they are out. What steams me is with all these stadiums, including ours, being paid for with tax payer’s money we cannot see the game on broadcast TV, only paid TV. Everyone makes more money if the series go all five games. Just like my dad thought the whole losing streak towards the end of the season was all planned as no one makes money when you have a runaway team. Why go to a game if nothing is at stake. if it is all a scam the Brewers will bury the Diamond Backs today. The game will just be a formality.

Go Brewers!