RAW, or Ride Across Wisconsin is coming up, and if
you want the discounted registration you best sign up by June 30th; today! This is one
budding event I can inform you about but there are so many events it s almost
too much to comprehend. Makes going to the fireworks for our blessed fourth a no
brainer, …but which fireworks? There are so many local. I don’t go for all that
celebrating not on the day but the day before crap.
Minooka
Park in Waukesha is a good focal point if you have a growing interest in
mountain biking for you or yours. As of now Metro Mountain
Biker’s Wednesday Night Races are at Minooka; check the site to confirm.
Then, July 10, is the Collectivo
Coffee Bean Classic, a WORS premier event.
Summerfest is here of course. I am not the biggest
fan of Summerfest. Too many drunks and not enough quiet places that are not
under a blazing sun. The old main stage is always nice, you can sit at some picnic
benches away from the speakers and take it easy and listen for a while. Now, if
I had free tickets…
But it is most productive to write about what I am
actually doing rather than what I have planned. What I am actually doing also
comes with pictures, if I can remember to bring my camera along. The garden is
one of my major endeavors at this time in my life. Hopefully I will have some
ride pictures soon, …if I can remember to bring my camera along..
Don’t keep feeding your dog the same food.
That is a myth; it is not healthy. Also dogs need moisture in their food; dry
food will upset their stomachs so add water.
Ike our dog is consuming our resources and my time
like never before. He has been struck with seizures and food appears to be a
part of the problem, as changing his diet has helped. He gets away with a lot
more now that he is ill. When he jumps into the raised garden beds, destroying
the vegetables, I just say, “Yes Ike, I built that for you.” Which is what he
wants to hear.
If you do not visit a holistic vet when you pet is
suffering from some ailment, you are only getting at best half the options
available to heal your dog. Our regular vet, Advance Animal Hospital, will
recommend vets with a holistic approach, though I am not completely happy with
Advanced Animal Hospital. Vets push a lot of vaccines that may not be
necessary.
As of today, three days after I started writing this
post Ike is having only a few mild seizures a day. If he keeps improving we will
not need to put him on medication.
Happy Fourth of July to all.
The $137 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.
Tomorrow Metro Mountain Bikers, your local IMBA
Chapter, will have a booth at the Tosa
Farmers Market. Yes, the streets are closed off, but not on the weekends. It
is very accessible.
The
Fondy Market appears to be an extensive organization with a focus on
providing produce in what some see as inner city food deserts; or is it
desserts? I only know that one is usually found to be delicious.
I’ve been busy with the soil myself. I am installing
another raised bed. That is all the soil it is getting this year. I’ll add
another 7 cubic feet of one part compost – one part vermiculite & perlite -
and one part peat moss next year. I put some cardboard on the bottom before
filling to attract worms. The compost is of my own making.
The cucumbers and other salad vegetables will be
going in today. We are a bit late in some things but have started enjoying
spinach from our garden, in another bed, already this week. Look at those potatoes
grow and the raspberries…..
Growing some beans this year. I am hoping they are pole
beans; the package didn’t specify. I was surprised all the seeds took so I
thinned things out a bit and put some of the plants in the ground beside the
container, giving them a fighting chance. I don’t like to destroy plants or any
living things, like that barberry in the back ground, even when they are a
nuisance. When I see a bee in the house I escort it outside. We have many
fascinating bugs around with our eclectic garden. When my wife sees a bug she
has only one thing to say,”Kill it.”
But if I want to expand my garden, so my wife and I
can live off our fraction of an acre, that unruly hostile barberry beast will
have to go. I just don’t have any other place to put it.
It is time to celebrate Wisconsin Bike Week. It
started yesterday and runs for eleven days… Don’t ask me, ask the Wisconsin Bike Fed.
Metro held their first
Wednesday night race this past Wednesday. That had yet to be nailed down
last meeting and am surprised I am first hearing about it today.
My bike? Still to be prepped for the season; as soon
as the garden is all in.
The $136 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.
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.
Midget wrestling tonight! I would tell you where, but
I am sure the crowd will be overflow. Even now those midgets are pumping up
their muscles.
April showers? Yes. it is April for one more
week. You would not know it today, but we had snow this month. But there are no
more excuses. It is time to ride.
We made it to the Bike Expo, simply out of habit. I
intended to buy a new helmet but the wallet doth protest. Besides, pumps were
cheaper than helmets. (we didn’t but a pump either) The nice clamp onto the stem
with a pressure gauge pumps of various price. You could even buy a pump bundle,
complete with a tire repair CO2 kit and bicycle care products for $100; still
cheaper than some helmets.
As we approached the Bike Expo we saw at least a
dozen people walking out with pumps. And it is time to pump up those tires; the Kettles have
opened and so has Little
Switzerland. Minooka is open also. The biking season is underway. The rain
this week was not enough to close the mountain bike trails for long. Check before you ride or
simply use some common sense.
The La
Crosse Omnium is just around the corner. One of the most beautiful areas of
our entire country. Pump up those tires, get out on your bike and prepare for
whatever level or venue you desire to compete at. The WORS handbook is available on
line or at many of your local bicycle shops.
You don’t compete? Despise competition? Get off my
blog!
I have written about bicycle baskets in the past,
that their were too few available. That has changed somewhat. I saw a very
interesting basket at the Bike Expo. It clipped into a bracket you mount on your
bicycle. You can detach it and it has swing up handles, much like a grocery
basket.
I asked my wife, “Do you want a basket like this for
your bike? You can go grocery shopping with your bicycle.”
“No.” she answered in her most common of responses to
my inquiries, as I mused getting it for myself and doing my own grocery
shopping.
So am I become a housewife? Underemployed I find
myself vacuuming and cleaning, and doing the dishes at an ever increasing rate.
If I were to take up such a role, certainly “the dishes would all be cleaner.”
But never fear, such a fate will never befall me, bringing all to question the
future of what it is to be a man. I have many a manly pursuits to entertain
myself in, building with wood, working the dirt with my hands…
I am growing potatoes this year. Seeing how expensive
grow bags are, a person on the Kenosha Potato Project Facebook site suggested I
could make grow bags out of a good quality garden fabric; that one uses to block
weeds and such. I suggested to my wife that we get a sewing machine, but the
finances are prohibitive. So I will sew up some grow bags by hand.
It’s beautiful outside. Get out and ride
your bike; …do something, anything outside. (I know I’m on the computer but I
was outside) It looks like we will have a good crop of peaches this year,
despite losing several major branches from the weight of the fruit tearing them
from the tree last year. I saw a bumble bee buzzing about the yard today. I do
not think we will be doing any canning though.
Sorry, I have been long overdue in my posts. I will
rectify that.
The $134 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.
“The Who” performed in Milwaukee almost two weeks ago
now. I had been listening to the promotions for their show with this
overwhelming sensation that I would be there; which was ridiculous. I couldn’t
afford it, had absolutely no plans of going and no intention of even trying to
go.
So I was bowling. A group was working the league to
raise money; I believe it was for cancer. I bought one raffle ticket and won two
tickets to see The Milwaukee
Admirals.
At the game they announced they had $25 tickets for
“The Who” on sale for $10. After the game, thinking that any tickets they had
would have been long sold, I asked if they had any $10 tickets left. (basically
obstructed or way back seats) They did. I bought two, under my wife’s scowl as
she said of herself, “I can’t go!”
I found a guy I know from Sheboygan to go with.
Fairly good seat, but right on the aisle where everyone comes up out of
concessions (walking in front of you). I had a young fat guy next to me (enough
said) as I gave the aisle seat to my friend.
The younger crowd next to us all walked out, for a
smoke or something, and a lady came up to my friend and said, “Our babysitter is
sick and we have to leave. Do you want our tickets?”
On the floor about twelve rows back near absolute
center stage.
Why was I supposed to be there? It remains a mystery.
“The Who” is the one band I have come to appreciate more and more over the
years. I had a couple of their albums when I was young but I listened more to
“The Doors” and “Styx”, and a bit of “Queen”.
“Cheap Trick”, “Super Tramp”, “Joe Walsh”…. My wife says “Queen”
never sounds old. Neither does “The Who”.
“The Who”, a band from a time when everyone debated who
was the best. Who was the best guitarist? Who was the best drummer? (Keith Moon)
Who was the best bass player? (John Entwistle) Who was the best vocalist? Who
had the greatest stage shows? Who was the best period?
Now, a few woman performers are recognized for amazing
vocals. Extraordinary men vocalists are recognized only if they sing opera. A
complimentary word is occasionally given to artists who actually write their own
music. But what everyone really looks at in music these days is, “Who makes the
most money?” …Something I never recall hearing anyone debate in my
youth.
The young people at the show seemed to pay little
attention. When leaving they snickered, “Have you ever seen so many people with
gray hair?” Yes the crowd was generally older. I noticed a not so tall woman who
really needed to be on someone’s shoulders to see anything but…
“The Who” truly is one of the greatest rock bands
ever. They were playing “Bargain” when we got to
the floor.
Speaking of bargains, the Bike Expo is fast approaching. I was
hoping to be occupied that weekend but my
plans fell through. I am not intending to volunteer for the Metro Mountain Bikers booth
either; a bit late for that. And you can bowl three games free everyday all Summer for
just $30; $26 for children.
Emery’s is already in sale mode; for over two weeks.
They couldn’t wait. They call it the Trek Fest
Sale. Their sale ends the day after the Bike Expo. So if you need a bike
right now… But the trails
are not yet open.
For you road riders the La Crosse Omnium is in full promotion
fever.
I really need a new helmet. More to the point, I
could use a new bike… maybe a couple of new bikes, and a stand to hold a bike
when I do maintenance and… It could never end.
The $133 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.
Excuse my recent absence from the Internet. You will
have to read one of my future posts on another blog to understand why, but at
this particular moment our excursion to Baconfest needs to be addressed. Our
report is long overdue. I know you have all been waiting anxious to hear news of
such a wondrous event, and perhaps you have even been anxious over my long
absence (Okay maybe not).
Wow! Nueske’s has
truly fantastic products. Their bacon and cheddar sausage, …I’m still
drooling. I know they always have a kiosk in Mayfair Mall during the
holidays.
The
Wisconsin Cheese Mart, of Old World Third Street, had this bacon wrapped
baked cheddar….
Where am I? Oh!
And if you gave the Cheese People your e-mail address
they gave you a free chunk of cheese.
Then their was the bacon wrapped water chestnuts and
the mounds of bacon and bacon dip provided by Patrick Cudahy.
Problem. Not enough vendors. My heart sank as soon as
we entered the auditorium. Too much empty space. Waiting in line was the rule of
the day though the organizers told us, “Don’t make lines just walk up and take
what you want.”
Did we get our money’s worth? Two nice aprons,
cheese, the consumption of a goodly portion of bacon and bacon enhanced foods
(though I was expecting much more) and $15 in slot machine play? I may be wrong
to suggest that we did not get our money’s worth.
Long story short; they need to keep the same amount
of available tickets and find at least twice as many vendors. We don’t drink
alcohol and all the free (if you bought a ticket) drink samples, there were
quite a few booths, were alcoholic. I whole lot of people left dissatisfied. I
expected more food, and to be their max for one hour of gorging rather then the
nearly two hours it took us to forage for enough samples to feel like maybe we
got our money’s worth. Then we had to wait in another long line to get our
credit for the slots.
But the experience has not brought my spirit down. I
have no less a reverence for all that is bacon than before.
Spring is on the rise and riding is on the mind. If
you fancy I long Sunday drive tomorrow, Saturday, then the La Crosse
Bike Swap II might be for you. Or just prepare for the coming, ever faithful
Bike Expo
at State Fair Park; April 8th through the 10th. The original Bike Expo, not
a Johnny come lately wanna-be. And it is free, unlike some of its’ spin
offs.
Metro Mountain Bikers here in Milwaukee will be
continuing with their fantastic work with Maintenance Mondays. The Odd Tuesday
Rides will continue and Competitive Wednesdays will be expanding. A local
retailer known for hosting similar events may take the Metro Mountain Biker’s
Wednesday event under their wing to cover any insurance requirements. The
location may vary from week to week.
Be prepared to ride. If you have the mind to ride now
watch for ice along shady corners and underpasses.
The $132 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.
The Super Bowl is tomorrow and I am hoping the
Broncos crush Carolina, literally, with their number one defense. No Cam. It is
not because your black, it is because you are a jerk. Tearing down the Packers
banner and destroying it… No apologies, no fines, nothing. And you don’t do your
little dances in front of your fans, you do them in front of the opposing team’s
fans. Here is an idea Cam… Get together and do your little dances in front of
the opposing team’s bench.
All this race crap people are trying to draw out
around the Super Bowl and Cam Newton (here’s the tricky part… the big fig
Newton) is not sticking and just taints the whole experience.
Here you have a quarterback whom few will deny is a
future hall of famer clearly on the basis of his talents, and people are trying
to make an issue of his race and that of the team. Do the Panthers really have
more black players than other teams? I don’t even know. And I haven’t heard
anyone bring up Jimmy the Greek.
All that in your face stuff the Panthers do is not
even that distasteful, if they do not mind being hated for it. If you know
you’re the best and bring the results, go old school; be the jerks do not whine
like a bunch of cry babies. No one ever made the rule that winners have to be
liked. History will vindicate you if you are worthy of your outrageously pompous
behavior. Until then if you want to act like a jerk, you are going to be treated
like a jerk.
In that light I predict 28 points for the Broncos in
the first half; 21 by the Bronco’s defense.
And that is all I have time for now, but the prize
pool grows.
The $131 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.
