Black Friday

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. The whole world was talking about black Friday and the war like atmosphere in search of a deal. Not sure how much of the ruckus was even about Christmas shopping. But it certainly was a beautiful day. I was busy with tasks around the house and almost didn’t get out for a ride As clouds gathered and darkness approached. This path is under Doyne Park and took me to the parkway.

We had a nice Thanksgiving at my brothers house. Which turkey was oven baked and which was deep fried? I made a double batch of rice pudding. I left one whole bowl for my brother to take to work the next day but I heard it never arrived. Misao went out shopping early in the morning, Black Friday not on Thanksgiving. She said the other shoppers were driving the roads with crazed looks on their faces rushing from store to store.

I had to replace this base plate on in our garage as it had rotted away, being exposed to standing water before I had the mud jacking done. Jacked up the corner of the garage as best I could and then took out the old and put in the new.

Here I made my own door closer from things hanging around the house. And if the bungee cord isn’t tight enough to keep drafts from pushing the door open, just add a knot to it.

And what could this be? When you create a tourniquet you need to place a stick under whatever you have tied around the extremity and twist it tight to really cut off the blood flow. When I ripped my arm open on a rock a couple years ago the cut was not too far from the artery. I don’t think a tube would make a good tourniquet and I have meant to add something useful to my saddle bag that would work as one but haven’t gotten to it. This works on the same principle. It is to keep the rocking chair rockers from spreading. The glue wouldn’t hold. My work never ends.

The good weather has been good for riding but I have not had the time. It looks like the weather will hold long enough for us to get a new roof before the snow starts flying. But some bicycle fanatics are eager for the bad weather to arrive. The Cyclo-cross National Championships will be held in Madison Wisconsin January 4-8.

My gym, Bally, was bought by LA Fitness. I heard on the news they would honor existing contracts which would keep my low monthly fees in place however I heard from others that the fees will go to $80 a month. Too steep for me. Not sure what the people I have worked out with will do. I find it hard to believe the prices gyms can charge and new gyms keep opening.

We have our tree up. It is a busy time of the year but I really need to set down a training schedule. Misao doesn’t like to see me write so much because she says then I don’t exercise. But if I could get paid for writing I’d be in the money. Over 550 post in just over five years; about two a week. Some posts have taken much more effort than others, especially on some of my more serious blogs. And then there are my books. Still editing and developing the second book though a rough version is available on Kindle.

The yard and garden could use a few more touches before the snow flies. I treated the peach tree on Thanksgiving as the temperatures were warm enough and all the leaves (all but one) had fallen. I intend now to invest much more time writing but wont let that keep me from training. As we advance financially I will pick larger more international races to train for.