Tuesday, May 10, 2016

When in Doubt

Write.

Writing, on my blogs at least, would be far more enjoyable if “Windows Live Writer” actually worked with “Blogger”. Yes, Google made some changes and “Microsoft” either through negligence or willful disregard failed to prepare. You cannot post from “Windows Live Writer” to your “Blogger” account.  It has been many many months now, and while the help forums claim a solution is coming, who knows? Now you know why UW Milwaukee isn’t all, “Hey! Our guy is running Microsoft!”

Emerys had a Mother’s Day Sale. They were closed on Mother’s Day, of which all were informed. The sale ran through Monday, and today is Tuesday. What’s the point of informing you now? …Exactly.

It is a fine establishment. Don’t get me wrong.

IMBA is in the midst of a Spring membership drive. It is another exemplary organization and their e-magazines members get via e-mail have loads of information for those who like to vacation to fantastic far away mountain bike locations, along with a good deal of personal interest stories of riders traveling the world.

Metro Mountain Bikers has benefitted financially by becoming part of IMBA. Membership now isn’t just about local activities, it includes perks and association with a nationally recognized organization.

Maintenance Mondays have begun and next Tuesday is the first Odd Tuesday ride of the season. Check Metro Mountain Biker’s Tweets for locations and trail conditions.

Ike’s health is momentarily uncertain. The money just flies away.

WORS is starting late this year. They do have two fewer races than usual. Racing is suffering in this economy but mountain biking is booming. The trails will only get better with the IMBA boost. The racing? A dedicated group are developing high school mountain bike race teams. The future of racing is secure.

My wife told me to, “Move the ladder. It’s in my way. I can’t carry the laundry basket by it.”

I told her, “Ask me to carry the laundry”.

It took me a couple of weeks to comply, but I moved the ladder, as the next picture attests.

Again, the day before a big sales day for our business, that would be Mother’s Day, they found another nail in our tire at Uptown Ford. Uptown Ford is a fine establishment. They are proud to be a Ford dealership and Ford is a generally good product however...

Uptown Ford did not take well to my criticism of the Ford Fusion. The control panel is poorly designed (don’t get me started), the speedometer looks like 50mph when your going 55mph (which causes you to speed up {the needle covers the back of the 6 on 60 and makes it look like a 5}) and they have a chronic problem with their lug nuts; you can’t get them off and on due to deterioration and they constantly need to be replaced. Just a few of many problems. I had to call AAA when I tried to repair a flat by myself.

“How long have cars used lug nuts to hold on the wheels?” I asked a service representative.

“Forever.” he answered.

Exactly!

I had taken in the car on a recall. My brother warned me that they are famous for not keeping their appointments within time. Not true. They finished the recall work within the time frame. No problem. But when they replaced the tire, which they said they had in stock but somehow it needed to be delivered, and then after they were done with the tire decided they needed to replace the lug nuts, again in stock but…, It was after 5pm when I finally got out of there. I spent the first two hours at Mayfair, a short walk away; convenient. Then I waited the next two plus hours in their very nice waiting area for them to change a tire. I fattened myself in my frustrations with a complementary cookie and two sodas. I should have had a water.

The money just flies away.

Yes, another testimony to my genius. Pepsi had unexpectedly high earnings. Coca Cola had earnings lower than expectations. I had written more than once long ago that the first soda company that committed to going back to real sugar would becoming king of the heap. That is what Pepsi did.

And my Mountain Sport? from way back in 2007. It is all coming to be. In IMBA’s Winter 2016 Trail News letter they have an article on hunting by bike; that’s pheasant hunting on fat bikes.

Genius! Yet I cannot get a job. I thought I was picking up some potentially steady work for my other company but have been left hanging without reply. I have my theories.

So what is left for me but to sew. I have thrown myself into the yard and garden. I stitched up some grow bags for potatoes and such. I bought 20yr garden fabric because I got twice as much for a dollar less than the 25yr. Unfortunately I don’t have a sewing machine.
The material cost is less than a dollar for a large bag. That is a great deal if it lasts more than one year. Fabric bags are superior. Why? When the roots grow to the fabric the light and/or air causes the root growth to stop. In a plastic planter they just keep building up along the side of the planter. You can buy quality bags for $5ea… if you buy 50! Otherwise $12 is a really good price but I doubt it will last twelve years.

I am also building more planter boxes.

Now I will once again attempt to post via “Windows Live Writer.” I hope they were just waiting for me to rant before they fixed the problem.

The $135 question: What were my three most favorite WORS races? Keeping the same question. Check out the Charity Jackpot Page link in the sidebar to possibly triple the amount.