September slips in

where we find our hero with a broken toe but also the satisfaction of having now pedaled over every bit of the SCT that is located in the state. (not at one time) The foundation opened up last part of trail Labor Day weekend and I discovered where they had put all of the hills. Most of the trail is fairly level. A few arcs that carry you over a major road and a few rolling hills but nothing like what lies around mile marker 45ish. But that isn't how I broke my toe. Neither was it black and blue from the wooded hike along border of the Carolinas where I spent first half of holiday weekend with Uncle and Aunt. They had spent many summers supplying boat, condo and fuel for myself and other relatives and I realized hadn't been up there in couple of years. Fortunately they were staying at home for holiday so ran up there Fri PM, did hike, watched football, drove back home Sunday, stopping by sister P's house for brief visit and then back here where some old friends who had moved away three years ago were in town visiting. Had supper at our old favorite local Mexican restaurant. And while margarita was very good that didn't lead to toe issue either. Bike ride was Monday AM and two major hills pushed the muscles that were already complaining about effect of hike to point where they finally said No at one hill. First time I have ever had to push this bike up a hill since buying it. After ride ran up to C's for late lunch and a very brief hike to local falls. As we were leaving right foot slipped and as I braced myself toe smashed into another rock.

In other news work has been crazy for last few months but now it appears we may be losing one division so lots of questions buzzing around.

Had wonderful massage and now off to zzzzzz.

HB2Me

I was feeling a bit sorry for myself today. What with it being the 48th anniversary of my appearance here and all but then got email from x-wife, a call and card from x-g/f; a call and email from best friend and her daughter, a thoughful gift from one sister and greetings from another who is buried in school work. Folks promised that they will have time to get card this weekend but doubt that as they are keeping youngest two grandkids and are overaged 13 to 157 so I don't expect to hear from them until they recover sometime around Labor Day.

Over the last half decade I have only wanted one thing and she is still as silent as she was when she ran away with all of my enthusiasm and belief in soul mates, true love, complete honesty and various other fairy tales.

Annual Birthday Ride

My oldest nephew turned 21 Friday. My sister and he lived with me a year right after her divorce. He is finding his way. Called me last month to let me know he is proposing to his girlfriend later this month. They aer coming into town for a visit. Evidently she has never been to a professional baseball game so I have ordered some tickets for us.

My own birthday, celebrating the 27th anniversary of my 21st birthday is in a couple of days but I was eager to complete my annual birthday ride so struck out for the trail Sat AM. Didn't get as early a start as I had intended but did manage to complete the task before the heat became miserable. Have a feeling that 50 may be the last year I bike my age, or else I may break it down into a morning and evening session, or better yet, move my birthday to November when the temperature is a bit more comfortable. Taking tomorrow off for errands and dining at my favorite grease spot, which will undo any good from Saturday's exercise. Dinner with some friends next week for a belated celebration.

Thought for the day

The thought that got away. Last viewed as my eyelids grew heavy on the bus into work this morning. At that moment the spark that was The Thought lit and leapt across some synapse in my brain, showering a heavenly vision that shown upon the inside of said eyelids and led to a smile spreading involuntarily and gently across my face as my body yielded to a last call from Mr Sandman. Leaving my mind alone to create spectacular beauty and ponder life's mysteries.

Or so I'd like to think that is what my mind was off doing while my mouth hung agape, drool slipping out of the corner of my mouth as my snoring grew so loud that it even awoke me. But sometime between the eyelids closing and the mouth opening there was some creative spark that was ignited. Unfortunately during the day it was misfiled. Probably by a conscious that was (temporarily) focused on the day job, aka work.

What happened to April?

How did three weeks fly by since last post? You'd think I had been leading an exciting whirlwind life. Sadly that is not true. The good news is the car's problem was easily fixed and if things work out right the repair bill for gutter work on home won't be to bad either.

Oldest niece turned 18 last Friday and got letter of acceptance (finally) from school she wanted to attend. Not sure why it took so long to accept someone who scored a 1980 on SAT, a 29 on ACT, and was an all A student.

This weekend was spent recuperating from some bug that hit me early Sat morning. Felt awful most of yesterday and am finally getting appetite back now. Did manage to finish cleaning garage, blew leaves out of gutter, and got office organized so I did manage to accomplish some things. At least with the stomach bug and chills the temptation to get out on bike was easy to overcome. Weatherfolks claimed entire weekend would be wet but most rain fell overnight and only one brief sprinkle today so would have been a great biking weekend.

Absolutely nothing humorous has happened last couple of weeks. Unless you count breaking up with C, getting sick or having COO mention possibilty of company shutting down to be in any way humorous. So my new goal is to treat May 1 as my own personal New Year and blog more frequently, rediscover humor, and finally find that kayak that is out there waiting for me.

pollen days and Mondays always get me down

Don't know if it was the sudden wave of naseau right before time to leave work or the fact the truck wouldn't start once I got off of bus but the day definitely took a turn downward. Actually I think it started with the tacky email I got at work from up the food chain. Anyway, was able to shift truck into neutral and slide down hill. It started and didn't die before getting home so I was able to hop in car from there and make it to blood drive.

I've mentioned fact my Dad is a mechanic before and it is the greatest of ironies that the mechanic gods decided to make sure his only son would have so much car trouble. Actually I can't really complain, okay sure I can, but realistically only once did I breakdown in heavy traffic. Rest of time has been more of a nuisance. And it isn't just one make of car. I am somehow cursed and the key to any model will soon fail to start the car. Part of it is my very unrealistic approach to all things mechanical. I am far to legalisgtic. I put gas in it, I change oil, I buy tires, therefore nothing should ever fail. A spark plug that dies is just one a lazy one and its failure to spark has nothing to do with anything real. Like I said it is very unrealistic but another car repair bill is the last bit of reality I want right now.

one of those days...

should have stayed in bed. have a great weekend.