This is Summer?

Some call this summer. Meteorically or solstice according the claim is Summer is here. But the harsh Winter and the cool damp weather maybe too much for the peach tree. If we don’t get some warm temps and if we have another bad Winter I fear it will go the way of the fire pit.

Ike was scared Thursday when the Blue Angels were flying over preparing for the air show. He doesn’t like the noise. Sorry to those who may have taken my advice and went down to see the Air and Water Show; it was cancelled. But activities abound. If you want to catch some road bike racing live, the Tour of America’s Dairy Land is in full swing. Still six more race events this week, three in Milwaukee County.

And Summerfest starts this week. We’re not big Summerfest fans, but if you love music, are in some remote area of the world and have never heard of Summerfest jump on a plane and come to Milwaukee.

Considering the weather this year you may want to investigate indoor activity alternatives. If you haven’t seen the billboards, you can buy a family summer pass for The Milwaukee Public Museum. Also for those under 15 years of age AMF bowling centers have a summer bowling pass for $24.95 and $29.95 for adults. The Milwaukee County Zoo gives you a pass for a full year, as does Ray’s MTB even though they are not open all year. You can purchase a yearly membership to most all museums.

The cucumber has reached the welded wire mesh. Soon there will be no stopping it. A 4x8 foot mesh has one end pushed in and held by the border timber and the other end is kept in place with the help of three tomato cages about five feet away. It creates a nice arch and cucumbers and tomatoes do well together.

One thing you can say about July and even August is that you know what to expect. June can be a different story. Though the second half of June is often rainy like now, this extensive coolness is neither desired nor within the typical scope. While most plants move towards the sun, the fuchsia here seems to be moving away from the sun in its mostly shady corner of the front porch.

World Cup? They say the Germans are angry, and it’s not because the prices at Starbucks are going up tomorrow. It means not even beer will make them smile. Team USA may be in trouble.

The $62 Question: What are the names of all the pilots and what are each of their plane’s names in my book? Chuck Hammer and the Invisible Squadron; A Vendetta’s Wage. Check the Charity Jackpot page in the sidebar to see how to double or triple your winnings.

The World Cup

I believe that is the cup label “#1 Dad” or “Best Dad in the World.” You can find them everywhere. What I got for Father’s Day was a new short story that popped into my head near complete as we left my parents home after visiting my father. So I am advancing on three separate stories this month. If I were a rich man I would buy my dad a condo in Miller Park; the Brewers’ stadium. I’m sure they must have those. I’m watching the news and see that the USA won something.

What may be even more incredible is that I got out to the trails today on my mountain bike. Hard too believe? I wouldn’t believe it myself but for the pictures I took. Yes, the Hoyt Park Beer Garden, a grand German tradition except for the public drunkenness it engenders, is open. Weather permitting, Wednesday thru Sunday 3-9pm. Of course that means the pool was open along with its concession stand. You can order from outside the pool area. The generous expanse of bike rakes were nearly full.

So enjoy our local common amenities. Tomorrow is the odd Tuesday ride put on by Metro Mountain Bikers, but it IS NOT at Hoyt Park. It is at The Alpha Trail, across from the Whitnall Park Golf Course. It’s a free group ride and you’ll see The Rock’s gravity course nearby.

What a beautiful sky.  Yes, the riding season has started for me. It was a short ride to and around the Hoyt Park Trails, just over ten miles, but I lost my vigor at the very end of my ride; the last mile back being all down hill. Surely if I had deep fried that pair of corn dogs I had for lunch my energy would have held. I revived myself with a bowl of chocolate ice cream when I got home. But I kept myself hungry, working on my weight loss until dinner of a frozen pizza and V8-Splash. My wife bought a vegetarian pizza for me. Blah!

Don’t forget The Milwaukee Air and Water Show is this weekend. Maybe we will ride down on our bikes if Misao is up to it and we wake up before it is over.

The $61 Question: What is the title of my new short story I just started today? Impossible to answer you say? Impossible to answer if no one tries to win the money for their favorite charity, and no one ever has. (see Charity Jackpot Page in sidebar, you can triple the amount) But I will give you a clue; it is four words and one of them is “life.”

Technically it’s Still Spring

And the cool weather may have you desiring a warm beverage. Fortunately for you there is a special place for you where you can buy a bike to boot. There is a new bike shop, I’m talking bicycles, near downtown, I’m talking Milwaukee, that includes a coffee and tea bar. Check out ‘Coast in Bikes’ off Walker’s Point. They will host the next Metro Mountain Biker’s meeting in July.

Tonight is the Clips Beer and Film Festival beginning at 7:30pm. Don’t know much about it but people at Tuesday’s meeting spoke not un-highly of it. It is a fundraiser for the Bike Fed. The Metro associated Wednesday Night Races was to begin last week, but it was rained out as I imagine it was last night. The races are at The Rock. The Rock is closed Mondays, has only a BMX race on Tuesdays and only an MTB race on Wednesdays, but I am sure if you want to have a group event on those days they can accommodate. I heard a car took to their BMX track this spring so it is now fenced off.

There is free cross country MTB from the county park near The Rock; Metro’s Alpha Trail. All local trails are reported to be in great condition. I have not hit any trails yet, but I did get the garden in. I passed Ike’s inspection. The project included plants of the decorative type. It looks like we will have plenty of raspberries this year, …finally.

What keeps me from the trails? My writing. It is actually difficult to switch from my novels to my blogs also. I have a system going and it dominates my processes and keeps me busy. My weight is stable.

I was asked at the Metro meeting if I would be racing this week. “Not til I’m under 250lbs.” I answered, which means no, most likely for the entire year. But that doesn’t mean WORS has closed down until my return. A good venue this weekend and still much more racing for the rest of the year. It is still technically Spring, …OK maybe not just technically. This time last year we had both air conditioners running.

The $60 question (you can triple that): Name all the new plantings in the two photos above. - I need your answer in the form of a question Phillip. - …What are the identities of all the new plantings in the above photos? And you don’t have to answer in the form of a question.