The gifts just piled up under the tree. Though we live a quiet life I guess we are appreciated. I actually saw someone that looked exactly like Katy Perry at Mayfair before Christmas.
Metro Mountain Bikers will be having a snow tubing event at The Rock this Winter again.
Thanks for reading in 2013.
I am faced with the age old question: Is Christmas shopping considered exercise? I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to train for the high dive. I guess I will have to put it in the same category as bowling, which is yet to be determined. I doubt it is exercise for my siblings, as they have come to re-gift many things I had given them back to me.
News Flash: If you buy something at the Brewers Fan Shop in the stadium, open 10:00-6:00, they will give you three bobble heads, year book and media guide for FREE! While supplies last. I am a competitive guy by nature of being a man rightly attracted to a woman, namely my wife. They had a bucket of baseballs at the fan shop; baseball a game I played a lot in my youth. I picked a ball up and squeezed it hard in my fingers. Man, it felt good. Brought back a lot of memories. It’s been a long time since I played.
I had little to nothing on my gift list this year but I think I should have put on it the handgun I’ve had my eye on for sometime; a purchase beyond our means in the past. Kahr Arms are known for power with accuracy, especially in their compact models. They tend to have limited clip capacity but that gives them a much slimmer design making even their full sized guns ideal for concealed carry. I wasn’t intending such a purchase for some time down the line, but after an evening of longer than usual prayer I dreamed a group of men thought my death a convenience and they weren’t talking natural causes. Not to mention we are having more gun violence closer and closer to our home as the years pass. Gift cards have become the medium for the gift of personal protection these days. Do I take dreams seriously? Not really but it is a good excuse. Can I imagine that there are people in the world who would benefit from my death? That is a whole different question.
What’s truly important though is that fruitcake is back. And check out Ray’s Indoor Mountain Park gift list.
The $49 question: What is the make and model of the first gun I owned, including the type of action? Yes, I watch “Duck Dynasty” and cannot disagree with anything Phil said. I suggest they go broadcast TV and get ratings not seen in thirty years.
The skiing isn’t free either. The Rock appears to be closed though the AcroBag Tour begins there this Monday. So we had lots of snow, deep cold for making snow, it’s the weekend and they have a big promo event starting Monday and their website says they are not open today? Too lazy to call and confirm. Sunburst is open and for those of you intolerant of the cold don’t forget Ray’s Indoor MTB, in Cleveland and Milwaukee.
The $48 question: What did I buy Alois for Christmas? See charity jackpot rules page in sidebar. A slight change from the previous question; gift is bought. Hint: I walked to the store and back when I bought his gift. Yes! From my house.
Happy Holidays.
Most of the world found the joy of the season when they heard the Packers won Sunday. For us lucky enough to watch the game it was the snow that made the game, and all the early NFL games, special. It made for some crazy wild football. What was truly crazy wild and completely stupid, not to mention incompetent was breaking in over game coverage for the newsmen to tell us it was snowing outside. Good going FOX6. A t least I could see the replay of that pivotal fumble.
The $47 question: What will I buy Alois (member of this blog) for Christmas? I had it picked out for several months. See Charity Jackpot rule page.
Merry Christmas!
Food, football, hunting, shopping and discussing death panels are all activities that draw us away from the original intent of Thanksgiving. I should probably include Metro Mountain Bikers annual turkey hurl to the list. I would have to count myself as most likely if I were to attend. I will have to get back to the bicycle trainer with a vengeance after tomorrow’s feast.
Even more important however is the question; Is bowling exercise? I suggested it was to my wife and she immediately went to the Internet to find the answer. Having absolute faith in all things Internet she determined that bowling is exercise only if you are bowling with fewer than four people. Otherwise the time between throws becomes too great to be considered exercise. Well, my wife has obviously never witness my moves as the ball thunders down the lane after my approach and toss. If that’s not exercise there is no such thing. And the doctor says I need 45 minutes of exercise five times a week. Bowling is actually not too expensive with league discounts. Our league is off Thanksgiving week.
The $46 question: Where did I get the recipe for my now infamous rice pudding?
Hopefully next year. Time and money have restricted any desired deer hunting adventures. I have one word for all those manly souls that took to field and forest for the great hunt; burrrr! Stepping out into the cold this afternoon from our somewhat warm dwelling my thoughts were not of hunting days past but of going back inside. It is a good reminder to clean my firearms. In my summer cleaning I actually found my receipts for my guns, all bought from reputable retailers. Important papers under our current regime as the police will not return any firearms if they should in anyway find them in their possession, unless you have proof of purchase.
But the thrill of the hunt is not completely lost to me. Three mice, I doubt very much they were blind, fell victim to one sticky trap. Yes, a single trap. I had found mouse sign in the form of droppings and such, clearly marking out their feed trail. After the victorious harvest my wife cleaned the area with some type of ammonia product.
“You know nothing about hunting!” I proclaimed to my wife. Confused, I had to explain to her the importance of scent and how she had compromised their trail, disrupted their routine and destroyed the opportunity for continued hunting glories and my chance to become a legend in the hunting world. She became very distraught over her faux pas. Now I will have to scout a new location.
On the topic of hunting, my wife and I both enjoy “Duck Dynasty.” We watch older seasons for free via Amazon Prime on our Roku. I have cousins just like the Robertsons, though they trim their beards. They live in Arkansas by way of Northwest Wisconsin. The man who owned our house before us had roots in Northwest Wisconsin. Those on “Duck Dynasty” often say “Do it right or do it over.” My cousins are of the same mindset and similar prosperity. The previous owner of my house on the other hand didn’t do it right and didn’t do it over.
Hence my time is drawn away from writing and riding and most other opportunities to advance myself, as we climb back to economic relevance. The bike trainer is essential in fitting in any exercise especially considering the cold. My weight is still creeping down. Any virtual reality bike trainers are out of the question this Winter. I am hoping to purchase some type of GPS device and sign up for Strava when the warm weather returns to track my training.
The $45 Question: Where did I purchase my last two firearms since I returned from oversees? See Charity Jackpot page in sidebar. If you can answer this question, the Doubler, the Bonus Question and tell me what was the catalyst for these purchases before the next post I will reward the charity of your choice $1,000.
Well they didn’t come early, but the tornados came late. The first real snow was early and Sunburst Ski Hill, home of an annual WORS race had made their snow and were opening. Then record highs, thunder, lightning and the unthinkable. The Midwest has some suffering to endure and many may still be without a home over the Holidays.
Yes, the Packers are plating, we hope, the Lions on Thanksgiving. We should be tied for first place right now, but I guess the NFL wanted a three-way tie in the North Division some two weeks ago because the refs gave the game to Chicago and no one will speak up about it. I saw many a big Chicago play where holding should have been called. I don’t know what game the talking heads were watching. I saw an arm wrapped around the neck of one of our lineman. Then and obvious chop block in view of the whole world. Both were on big third down plays. I believe three penalties were called in the entire game. Is the NFL going the way of wrestling?
Wisconsin Minnesota rivalries are the theme for this coming weekend. Sunday the Packers play those losing Vikings. Saturday our respective State Universities go at it for possession of Paul Bunyan’s Ax. I heard that before the ax they competed for a slab of bacon. It’s true. The good old days were better.
There are only a few things we need and they relate to fixing up our home. Afterwards we can think about new furniture, bikes or trainers, or going skiing. My used trainer will, will have to, suffice for this Winter. My weight is inching down. Let’s see if the trainer will make a difference over the Holidays.
The $44 question: What was the name of my first bowling ball? See Charity Jackpot page in sidebar.
“60 Minutes” did a expose’ on the Go Pro digital camera; the man and the company but mostly the camera. It is a great success because the man with the vision created the right equipment for surfers, and meeting those corresponding requirements he happened to create a camera good for absolutely everything else. Go Pro was a sponsor of WORS at least for one year in the past and a product I have propped before (without compensation). I showed Misao the Go Pro web site with the videos. She says we have to get one to strap onto ‘Ike’ our dog.
Misao has become a groupie of ‘The Band Perry’ and says we need to go to their Green Bay concert also. Keeping the wife happy is very important. The right equipment is certainly essential in this regard. There are some age old time proven tactics and equipment to keep the desired harmony in the home. The foremost tactic is for men to be men and women to be women all in their respective spheres.
To keep my wife happy I call her ‘Queen Bee’. Then she sings “I rule, I rule, I rule.’ I let her live her fantasy and if that doesn’t work, I can always go bowling. Not ‘The Band Perry’ but it works.
Just call me a font of wisdom.
The $43 Question: Where did I bowl as a youth? Hint: historic landmark. See Charity Jackpot page in sidebar. The more books I get published the greater the multiplier will become.
Yes, my wife and I made it to see The Band Perry. And what a show!
Misao liked his songs very much. The local coverage of the entire show was impressive though I would have liked to have read some explanation for the delays. I was surprised I didn’t hear any advertisements in Milwaukee. I don’t know about the country music stations. I think many of The Band Perry’s fans or potential fans would not necessarily listen to strictly country music stations. All ages made up the audience including parents with their children.
Our deepest wishes for their continued success as they hit Europe.
Misao bought their album “Pioneer” (special edition) at Target and spends her internet time learning all the background of their songs. She kept looking over my shoulder as I was writing this post yesterday so I had to put off finishing it until today. Why she worries baffles me.
The $42 question: What three concerts have I attended in my life? Hints; The Band Perry sang a piece from one of the groups, but in regards to the other there was no harmonica in TBP show. See Charity Jackpot page in the side bar.
Misao made me get a hair cut today. She said I get angry easily when my hair gets long. Perhaps some wild haired Teutonic spirits looking to connect in pursuit of some vicarious conquest against perceived enemies resembling those long dead. But I think she just wants me to look proper and upstanding for tomorrow. A friend of ours scored us some tickets for “The Band Perry” Friday evening in Madison. My wife’s very first concert ever. We can afford to go, making up Friday’s sales tonight, as nothing Halloween related goes on after the 31st. That’s when those Saints come marching in. It will be a wild and crazy tonight.
The $41 question for good causes such as Dream Bikes (see Charity Jackpot page in sidebar): What two concerts did I attend in High School? Yes, we will keep it the same as my last post as getting tickets and making time for “The Band Perry” has consumed our souls this week.
Better Dig Two
Snow in October? That was the promise anyway. It snowed in Sheboygan and Madison today according to my Facebook friends. And snow can mean only one thing. Cyclo-Cross is here; AKA Psycho-Cross. La Crosse is holding a cyclo-cross event on November 2nd.
Of course Friday is The 2013 Wisconsin Bike Summit if you have yet to find your second part time job and have the time. It is topped off by the Saris Gala.
Now for the big event, the $40 question with not only the Doubler being in affect (see jackpot page) but also the Bonus Question is now activated for a chance to transform $40 into $120. My wife and I are contemplating attending one of The Band Perry concerts in Wisconsin over the next several months. I went to two concerts when I was in High School. Which two performances did I see?
Hint: They could both be labeled iconic. …or not depending on your tastes.
Everyone loves pizza. It is something you can order delivered at home for a football game, while you’re riding on Ray’s fantastical indoor MTB courses or even at the next Metro Mountain Bikers meeting which will be in November on Sunday; MTB movies to follow and a hot grill outdoors. It is election time for the club.
Palermo’s is a famous, or rather infamous frozen pizza producer in our valley. They have a public café at their production facility that serves beer which is so very important to many of the MTB affliction. I am not sure if the Fall Social Ride tomorrow will visit there, but places you have never been before (on a social ride) were promised last meeting. All are welcome. I rode out to Palermo’s yesterday and took a glide over the Three Bridges Park trail, connected to the Hank Aaron Trail. It is right behind Palermo’s. When I got there I found the battery in my camera was dead.
It is a nice ride,as is the Canal Street corridor. If a clear and convenient bike path can connect 6th street to the Lakefront it will be a convenient and enjoyable ride. You could actually ride from Lake Michigan almost all the way to Madison with little worry of automobile traffic. Though from this November until 2017 the trail will be closed from 94th Place to 116th Street while the freeway interchange is being reconstructed.
Sometimes we make pizza from scratch. Palermo’s sells frozen crust at their cafe. You can buy pizza dough fairly cheap at Trader Joe’s or other places. The traditional yeast based pizza dough can be a long somewhat tedious process to produce but there are several recipes for no yeast pizza dough (I think that is what Trader Joe’s sells) that take only a few minutes to prepare. You can find the recipes on the Internet and they are almost all identical. We were watching America’s Test Kitchen one Saturday and their no yeast pizza dough had one difference over all the others. You know they test and retest and then test again to find the very best recipes. They added 2 tablespoons of corn starch to the typical recipe. And I am no fan of big corn. I wouldn’t tell you that if I didn’t trust that it makes a difference.
My wife and I had to make a trip yesterday and without reservations I let her drive. Though when I told her to stop I had to repeat myself five times before she stopped. She also claims she stops completely at stop signs. So we were planning to try this no yeast dough pizza. You need to roll it out on parchment paper so you can slide it onto a preheated stone or pan (it bakes with the paper). So for several days I asked, “Did you buy the parchment paper?”
Over and over she confirmed to me that we had parchment paper. So she was mixing up the dough. I, always looking to help, asked “Where is the parchment paper?” I opened the drawer she directed me to and asked again, “Where?”
“This is wax paper.” I told my wife. Wax paper is much easier to remove from the bottom of a baked pizza after it is cold, like refrigerator cold. Pizza toppings are more common and inexpensive these days at the grocer.
The $38 question (see Charity Jackpot page): You all know that I have invested myself as a writer. (I will be providing my e-books for free in the near future) Who gave me my first typewriter and what is the make and model?
Is it October already? The colors seemed to start changing on queue. This will be some month. October 3rd is Ray’s Indoor Bike Park sneak peak; free for all IMBA members from 6-10pm. October 8th will be the Metro Mountain Biker’s monthly meeting at ‘Collectivo’ formerly Alterra at 68th and Wells. They found it important to mention to club members that they serve beer at this location. Maybe I will have a tea. The 12th is Metro’s Fall Social Ride also featuring beer. October 25th is the Wisconsin Bike Summit in Madison. I suspect beer will be involved.
The WORS season ends this October 6th.
REI will be hosting a run/walk this coming weekend at Lapham Peal State Park to raise money for improvements. I mentioned some events this last weekend and heard on the news of many more that same weekend. Lots of fundraising going on around here for good causes. I regret that our schedule is so irregular that we find it hard to contribute. REI will also be hosting a Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse seminar on the 22nd, a topic near and dear, like global warming.
My brother the Catholic Priest is developing a pilgrimage route in Wisconsin. He will start his own pilgrimage over the route this October 13th.
Ike suffered a bee sting a while back. Here he is sitting in the refrigerator. He looked worse and worse over the following day (the Internet said after 24hrs he should be fine, not true) but 25mg of Benadryl immediately made him a happy camper; problem solved.
October hit me like a brick. Found myself scattered this morning but regrouped. Having several jobs going last month I had to push to complete some semblance of my writing goals. I worked late last night to finish another edit of my second book. I found the work in such bad shape I thought, You’re never going to be a writer Phil. (I call myself Phil but prefer you all call me Phillip) Then I said to myself, “No man. You’re good.” I pulled out some past versions of the work in print-out and digital form and compared them with what I was working on; the latest digital version. Is sabotage the right word? Maybe, if I could imagine why or how someone would want to mess up my work, but it is difficult to imagine. Something messed it up good in many and various subtle ways.
I hope to make it to Ray’s this Thursday. It is my bowling night but I pre-bowled so I can attend a lecture at SARUP. Then I will run out afterwards if time allows. California was passing up Wisconsin in number of visits to my blog until I started giving Ray’s some free promotion. They have made their indoor park better than ever this year making many fantastic changes. Their season pass is good for twelve months now. So if you get one late this season it will still be good early next season. They also hold several stand alone events throughout the summer.
I always get immediate hits from California when I post on any of my blogs. It is always a new hit, not a previous visitor and did I mention it comes as soon as I post anything. Its been that way for years.
Last question stands. $36
Two previously mentioned events deserve to be repeated; a reminder to those who may not have any plans yet for today (I write in the early AM). One is the Energy for Life Walkathon today right here in Milwaukee at Greenfield Park. The other is the Fall Color Festival, a family oriented MTB event, In the Southern Kettles at the John Muir trail head. Both take advantage of Wisconsin’s wonderful natural environment.
Harvesting is something that should come natural to all men. Partaking of the fruits of their labor and God’s good earth. The peaches were slow to ripen this year due to the unusual fluctuations in the weather this Summer. I picked all the ripe fruit and anything of significant size since it all seemed to be falling, ready or not. It appears the fruit will all drop the last week of September even if it is still green. Much was chomped upon by some creature, most likely of feathered nature but whose true identity has yet to be revealed. We had more rot than usual this year. But everyone we have given fruit to loves the peaches. They can’t stop talking about how wonderful they are. Ours is a Resilient Peach Tree and this is the northern edge of its growing zone. It is in a protected area and we are near the lake. It gets something less than full sunlight as the surrounding houses shade it for some hours a day, though not much more than the trees along the street would.
So I am walking up to a local grocery and some lady approaches me and says, “Excuse me sir. I don’t know if you know this but you almost caused an accident back at the intersection.”
So what does a man do? “No.” I answered, “I didn’t.”
She went on to explain that how stopping after a left turn arrow went from yellow to red that I almost caused two cars, one hers, to hit me from behind.
I explained that I had to stop (I was not going fast either) and if anyone hit me from behind it would be their fault; they would be liable. After the fact I wish I had told her that she would also have gotten a ticket for un-attentive driving if she had hit me. And that’s the truth!
She said, “The light was not red it was gold.” …Gold? That told me everything I needed to know. Those must have been some powerful psychedelic mind altering illicit drugs she took in her formative years. Who calls a yellow light gold? Must be of the same liberal stock as those East-siders that drift into the lane to their right before they make a left turn.
I continued to try to explain why she was wrong. She just wouldn’t shut up. Finally she called me a derogatory term that I cannot mention here and stormed off. Some choice unmentionable terms I had not used in many years came to my mind also though I refrained from their use. But two words encapsulate any and all such terms could possibly come to mind; ‘woman driver’. There is power in being concise.
And when I say ‘woman driver’ I am not being figurative despite her looks. That would suggest that she could possibly be a man. On the other hand they changed the definition of literal to also mean figurative in the latest edition of “The Oxford English Dictionary”. So to say that she was literally a ‘woman driver’ would still not preclude her from being a man. Bringing us to the real problem with the world today. Men not being men (and I’m not talking non-alcoholic beer) and women not being women. Could it all trace back to when woman started driving?
And this is why you keep coming back.. Yes, I try to keep you informed of upcoming events. In some cases I lapse in that responsibility. I missed mentioning the Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic. I have discovered a new race, after it was over, in the news feed in my side bar; The Red Earth Classic in the upper peninsula. But it is the cutting edge truth and common sense that was all too common in days gone by.
Now, for the $34 question. Back in High School my brother and I were going to go in together to buy a classic muscle car but the guy left town thinking it was a day later than it was before we could pick it up. What was the make, model, price and how much did we put down, which of our younger brothers redeemed the receipt for our deposit and was it days, weeks, months or years later? Check the rules on the jackpot page.
I have been away from writing all together for a few weeks. I had the opportunity to help some friends with projects of theirs. It has kept me busy. This time of year also appears to be a two month window in which I do 90% of major renovations on our own home. I failed to mention the Bike Fed/IMBA Day at The Rock two weeks past. Maybe they would have had a larger turnout if I had mentioned it on my blog. I am just too popular. Until we can rid ourselves of our weekend jobs I don’t see any opportunity to support weekend bicycle events and competitions.
Tomorrow, very short notice, is the grand opening of the Pleasant Valley bike trails. They look quite inviting for the whole family and not too far out of the way for the Milwaukee area. 10:00am – 2:00pm in Cedarburg.
With plenty of time to plan a wonderful Saturday don’t forget about the Fall Color Festival in our wonderful Kettle Moraine on Saturday the 28th. Plenty of fun and activities (and prizes) for the whole family. On the same day is another event and very worthy of participation. It is the Energy for Life Walkathon for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, right here in Milwaukee at Greenfield Park.
On a darker note, the Odd Tuesday Rides are over. The Wednesday Night Races, also finished for the season, were a success with a total of 159 different competitors over twelve weeks. They averaged about 50 racers a week. Nearly half were in the over 40 category, and they were not all in the greatest of shape. Of course their were some true athletes competing but don’t be shy in taking the plunge. There will be plenty of beginners to commiserate with if you are overweight and out of shape. Metro Mountain Bikers have invested nearly 800 volunteer hours as of the Beginning of September in trail care and building. There will be many more before the end of the year. WORS Alterra attendance was down by 10% from the 1012 season.
Yes, the economy is hitting everyone hard which is why you are all waiting for the now $32 question (see rules on Charity Jackpot page). The question; How old was my wife and how old was I when we first met?
A stenciled advertisement would fit nicely on that built feature. Yes, more photos from the Alterra Coffee Bean Classic. I mentioned the free coffee but they were also offering a ‘sport tea’. Now ‘Colectivo’ they have begun offering their own tea blends, though I do not see Sport Tea in a tin they serve it in their stores. I suspect their Fable Tea is part of the mix; containing rooibos. So advances Colectivo’s march towards world domination.
SPORTea is something completely different but maybe not so much. My wife and I enjoy tea, her more than me. Her tastes favor the bitter and dingier tastes more than I. She just received some nice teas, per her tastes, from her sister in Japan along with many other tasty goodies.
I like visiting Teavana when we go to the mall. I realized that Misao doesn’t like to buy their expensive high end quality. She would rather buy cheaper brands from the grocery store so she can have more money for other shopping, to support her habit; not tea but shopping.
Teavana has a wide variety of quality blends and very hands on attendance. If you prefer less personal care and slightly cheaper prices, but the same range of variety as well as information on all the tea’s qualities Fava Tea Company may be where you want to shop. Of course, in this economy and with high gas prices location may be your deciding factor in giving your patronage to any brand store. I also came across the Mark T. Wendell Tea Company on the Internet via Facebook.
Let me get back to business. This weekend, September 1st, in La Crosse is The Skullsplitter Gravel Race and Ride. That’s the way they spelled it though a hyphen would be advised.
The WORS Reforestation Ramble was quick upon the Alterra event this past Sunday. It is a good cross country trial and a race I enjoyed in the past. Training for next year begins now. One of my favorite WORS races is Treadfest, coming this September 8th. A beautiful setting and course set in a luxury resort.
There is so much to organize on the Internet. Would we all be better off without computers? I will have to get all my photos up on Flickr though I am not sure how much space I have. After some years of cancelling Flickr’s paid service they finally adjusted the formatting back to the free service so I can access all my photos rather than just a few in one of the sets I had previously set up.
