Congratulations

Congratulations to the hardworking mountain bike enthusiasts of Waukesha. The Minooka Park Trails have a ribbon cutting tomorrow morning. They worked hard. More trails to come. Go thank them and check out the new trails.

If only I had stayed current in my fitness goals I may have enjoyed entering the Spartan Race being held just down the road at Miller Park this September. I can always dream.

My wife has been studying this Heso Ampuku Message. I had been looking to find a good alternative medicine institution but this will have to do until we become filthy rich. Filthy is the easy part.

My wife’s efforts suggest that my liver is the problem, not that I didn’t know that, some chronic condition. I also take these supplements that are both good for the liver. They are supposed to help me lose weight. I don’t take as many tablets they recommend. Some may call me cheap. I prefer fiscally prudent. I have not lost any weight these last couple of months. Green coffee has been talked about a lot as a weight loss aid. I tried it as the claims are it specifically attacks fat in the liver and abdomen.

Yesterday was my final delivery day. I will now focus on writing full time. I arrived home after my final delivery day and put the car in the garage. Sitting in my car in the garage I waited a moment to see if some blow hard on the radio was going to play a song he had said he would play for like fifteen minutes when I received a text message. It was from Twitter. An author I had been following a long time had just begun to follow me. Closest thing to a message from God that I have had in a long time.

I will change my rules for the jackpot again to include International readers. They must name a charity based in the United States however so I can verify its validity. I can add more states to the qualifications if I can receive reliable information as to the legality of awarding prizes to charities in those states. Check out the Charity Jackpot page in the side bar.

The $12 question is the easiest so far, but it is only a $12 question and it is a trick question. After High School in my first year of University where did I live? No specifics required. General answers allowed and expected.

Memorial Day

A time to remember those who died, most notably members of our armed forces. It was called decoration day and decorating graves of loved ones was the norm. Then it became decorating ones yard. I was planning a garden day as both my wife and I had the whole day free. We were going to get some major garden projects done and maybe go for a bike ride. The weather snuffed out everyone’s plans. The whole neighborhood was quiet.

But the weather was perfect for bringing an end to some old unsustainable school projects. I couldn’t bring myself to throw them in the trash so I burned them. The largest seen here.

It is surprising how well Strathmore burns once it gets going.

The WORS season looks to be going well though I have yet to get to a race. Plenty of pictures on their Facebook page. I missed the last Metro Meeting having had a very long work week and weekend with that other holiday in May. I was still recovering and completely forgot.

Another race series some may be interested in is the Urban Dare, coming to Chicago June 15th. I am still pushing to get back into a rigid fitness routine. I gave my delivery job five months notice and will soon be writing full time. It will be easier to work in an exercise schedule around my writing. Writing I am also doing a lot more reading.

Of course there had to be the grilling for the holiday.

Note the changes to the jackpot rules on the Jackpot page.

Here is the $10 question. I have never gone to a movie by myself. Way back there was a movie I really wanted to see but my brothers and mother went without me. I never saw the movie. What movie was it? Hint: I have been there.

See how you can double the winnings for charity on the jackpot page.

Pictures and Portends

My wit, sometimes too earthy humor, valuable information and advice keep people coming back to the blog. But it is pictures that really keep people interested. Like a good coffee table book a blog needs photos.

Took a ride today. Here are the gravel paths around the detention ponds near the Hoyt Park Trails. The site I suggested for an “It’s April You Fool” race. Though in April the trails may not be fit to ride the gravel would hold out. Maybe some cyclocross style runs up and down some grassy knolls. Want to ride the Himalayas? I got an e-mail from these guys.

The other side of the road has more. Several runners and walkers were using the paths.The mountain bike trails had a few wet spots but were in fairly good condition. Tomorrow will be an odd Tuesday ride. I believe it will be the first. I need to follow the site more. I missed the e-mail about the Sunday trail work day they held yesterday afternoon. One of the first times I would have been free. The Wednesday time trials will begin soon at The Rock; The Alpha Trail.

Not sure if this is connected to the flood control plan but it is a picture.

What will the rest of May bring? How will the summer play out? May 1st has been an important date for different cultures and of course the communists. Some consider snow a good sign and it snowed heavy in Northern Wisconsin. In the orient they say a families fortunes are shaped by the landscape of burial plots and many of my family are buried in the north.

Here at home our peach blossoms bloomed on May 1st. Who knows if it is a sign of changing fortunes for us.

We found ourselves in that socialist haven called Greenfield. Took some interest in a local artist.

I checked my settings and yes, I do have the settings at “anyone” for comments. Maybe people don’t like money.

Here is the $8 question anyway. I went to a movie with my classmate who put me onto the magazine of $6 question fame and one other. What movie did the three of us go to see when we were in High School?

April Fools

Everyone complains about April though every year it is rainy and cool at best, snow storms at the worst. Some say they want to turn off their furnace but they never do. We are just too anxious for Spring. No one has been excited over my idea for an “It’s April You Fool Race.”

But May is different. Suddenly the action begins though it is a bit too early to plant. I mentioned the Ominium last week;  held the first weekend in May. Also include is the Granddad Half Marathon, also in La Crosse. La Crosse is beautiful country. And they are going all out in fitness promotion.

There are also Trail Runs associated with seven of the twelve WORS Races

Today I got the wheels of the old mountain bike turning. It began to drizzle as I went out and stopped when I got back. But I had a good meander. Down along a path I often take I found that this bridge has been opened, or not. The allure was too much and I ventured over the old timbers despite my weighty disposition.

On the other side I found this remote stretch that looks to be used only by some pre-digital spammers to practice their ancient craft.

Here on the edge of a wilderness wild I ended the adventure and turned back lest I run into my greatest fear; cannibals. That and hordes of malicious mechanical spiders. I love to travel and have traversed many a part of the globe. New Guinea is one place I have no desire to visit.

I perused Hart Park and headed home. It was a good ride.

The $6 question: The moment you have all been waiting for. I read magazines much more than I did in the past. Mostly the outdoor sports type, often for research on something I write. I pick and choose the articles and most of the magazine goes unappreciated. But in High School there was a magazine I read from cover to cover, every add and classified. What magazine was it?

Just Ducky

The weather has been frightful for some but plain ducky for others, namely the ducks. Working my route in sometimes driving rain, or what my wife and I would call a carwash, I observed quite a bit of the seasonal flooding familiar to this region. The ducks were everywhere. I nearly hit a pair with my car. As I drifted away from a male mallard I soon realized I had just set course for the female. Her camouflage having hidden her from immediate view I had to brake. They both flew up and out of the way just in time. Some ducks are not so lucky. I found this dog treat while I was waiting for our car to be repaired.

Yes, more selfless promotion of the labors and dreams of others, providing some more free advertising. The store seems very knowledgeable on all things healthy for one’s pet. Some more WORS (Wisconsin Off-road Racing Series; we’re talking mountain bike if this is your first time to my blog) sponsors include that stalwart Trek, as well as BelGioioso (that’s cheese) and Element Mobile.

The WORS opening event has been postponed due to weather. They still have snow at Iola. The race has been moved to the 19th of May.

My profitless promotion of the work of others has come to the point where I am receiving e-mails out of the blue from events across the state. Or perhaps some group has shared their e-mail list with center venues. I have been lacking in that some events have passed without my mention. The La Crosse Ominium is the weekend of May 3-5, which would have been the Opening event date for WORS if they had not rescheduled. The Ominium will have a special introduction to women’s racing.

The chocolate bunny’s peeps came to her rescue as the Leprechauns had cleaned out the bunnies bowl. But what I found later is just wrong. I guess the bunny thought the Leprechauns had left and she was safe. It will be the bunny’s downfall. I can still hear the Leprechauns in the walls. …or maybe that’s the raccoons.

A good blog needs pictures.

$4 Question:

Yes, no one answered the $2 question of previous post so I have a new question. I guess everyone is waiting for the jackpot to grow. I will answer all questions in the comment sections  of the related post. My family members may or may not qualify for the jackpot depending on the question. In other words, whatever I decide. Here’s the question:

Dominated by indoor activities over the Winter months one such activity has created the urge in me to become very thin, buy a cowboy hat (I am always looking for a good poker hat) and purchase a sidearm. Why?

I hear the University Wisconsin system has a hidden billion dollar surplus. Why didn’t I sue them? (not the $4 question.)

The Trainer

We have become a crass and uncouth society with few scruples. Just about anything passes for humor these days. But one thing that is not funny is saying you’re going to buy yourself a trainer and then not doing it. After a while it makes one feel less of a man, or even worse like a politician. So I went out and bought me a trainer. Not a person, as my wife thought I had been writing about all these past months (I guess she never clicks on the links) but what is in the picture here.

Take note that this is not a safe place for a trainer. Cyclops recommends one use a fan when using their trainers indoors and this is a small tight corner. But the weather is still cool and I am just getting back into serious training with some light workouts. One does not want to overheat and die. What I accomplish this year will determine my racing future. If I cannot get my weight down I may only make a few choice races/events every year. I may even have to drop down to citizen class in WORS if that is allowed. But I will get in great shape even if I still weigh 280lbs.
Kinetic seems to be growing in popularity as a trainer. They had several out on display at Emery’s. I bought my Cyclops used at Emery’s for a good price. It was a demo. I hope it lasts. It doesn’t look the best and when you have a demo out it is not just performance but appearance people are judging. So it was time for this demo model to move on.
My exercise log is filling up at last this April. Getting in some good walks with the dog and now I have been doing some stationary riding with my road bike. I don’t get out much with my road bike. I have trouble getting a proper adjustment on these old brakes. They drag against the wheel. Even when I think I have it fixed it happens again. Rain is keeping me off the roads as well as some good old hard work. Last week I had five days of gainful work. Good physical work, unlike my driving job. It gets the old bowels moving. I had myself one of those sit downs where you think, I should have weighed myself beforehand. I cannot think of a job worse for my health than driving all day. That is why I put in nearly six months notice some time back that I will be quitting that job.
To promote my blog (and my other writings) I am starting a promotion. I will ask a question each week starting at $2 for the winner. The prize will go up $2 every post ($1 a post over $40) every time the question is not answered before the next post. I am looking to be posting more than once a week now that the season is upon us. The topic will be of course myself and always educational. You can claim the money for a charity or or non-profit such as a bicycle club. (revised 5/24/13; can only be claimed for a charity)
The $2 question:
When I was a baker way back when I broke the record for most donuts dropped on one screen. A batter bowl with a plunger drops the donuts into the oil, they sink to the bottom before rising. They are turned once. When the donuts drop they sometimes touch when they momentarily rest on the bottom, it’s called a marriage, and they become slightly deformed. I don’t recall what my record was (I think it was 64, it was a long time ago) but I remember how many marriages I had. How many marriages did I have? One guess per ID.

Happy Easter

The problem with Easters in March is menacing Leprechauns. Needless to say there was little left of the bunny’s eggs and droppings by the time Easter morning arrived. If only he had left some of his gold in exchange. The display idea Misao got from Martha Stewart though she didn’t refer to the jelly beans as droppings.

Easter gets ‘Happy’ while Christmas gets ‘Merry’. I thought my wife and I had a gay marriage but everyone says that is not what it means. Or maybe it is just a really big April’s Fool joke. I hope so. Spring has truly given us the April’s Fool as after a tempting weekend the cold has returned.

But there is no fooling about The Bike Expo this coming weekend. Not to be outdone by Wheel and Sprocket, Emery’s is having a 50th Anniversary Twelve-day Sale starting at the same time as the Bike Expo, …but lasting much longer.

The Brewers won their opening day game today. A good start to the New Year. My New Year resolutions are to write fiction professionally (which means to write 30,000+ words a month) and complete a work on planning as a possible basis for a potential Master thesis. Always looking to inform my readers there are some good production techniques to master one’s time when working from home, linked to in one of my other blogs.

My training goals are also getting a late start. I may still get a basic trainer to push myself this month so as not to be put off by the weather. Yes, the WORS Racing Handbook has been out for awhile and there is only a little more than a month before the first race. If I focus I may be ready for the forth race. Kinetic is still a sponsor. Some other sponsors include Honey Stinger, Kali,  mt.Borah, ProGold (lubricants for bikes and guns), Kuhl, Native eyewear and many more. I’ll have to mention them all at least once over the season.

Started the month with some focus despite being alone with Ike. I told Misao that we had two dogs that took care of us, now we have this dog. I took him for a long walk today, long enough to qualify being added to my exercise log.