Day 147 – Jim’s Trek – 20.0 Miles – 21st Goal Reached – The Interim Bank Manager Wants My Assistance

Good Day,

This morning, in what appears to be the beginning of Tampa’s rainy season, I am still cycling on my Schwinn 150 Trek in, I believe, central Manitoba. And I reached my 21st Interlake address goal today – Interlake Pharmacy in Stonewall, Manitoba. This also the location of Interlake Publishing. This next goal is at the 2,607th mile of my Trek.

And continuing, I clocked a total of 2,623.4 miles, and as I am still in Canada, that is 4,222 kilometers. All I can say is that I am pleased with the progress on this 147th day of my Schwinn 150 Trek… from Tampa to Seattle. I am now headed south on Perimeter Highway/Manitoba 101 and I am, more or less, due west of Winnipeg.

I received this glorious and most generous email this morning, April 30th, at 4:11 am, at just about the time I was rudely awakened as the heavens opened in a phenomenal deluge and impressive thunderstorm. (I wonder if Mother Nature was trying to send me a message from France and Africa.)

And the English teacher and Banker in me itched to correct the grammar, and understand the wherewithal of the propensity of the author’s psyche. I am also curious at the number of addressees, as I seemed to have been included on a distribution list of “Undisclosed Recipients”, who would actually and sorry to say, with a lack of common logic and committed sense of naiveté, respond blatantly to the self-appointed Interim Bank Manager, Idema Zongo, in expectation of a financial win-fall.

Dear Friend ,

Good day and complement.

I know that you will be surprise to hear about this transaction since we don't know each other before but, it was due to the urgency of this transaction makes me to contact you immediately through email please accept my apology.

I am the interim Bank Manager under political appointment in this Bank (BANK OF AFRICA dot BOA) I need your urgent assistance in transferring this sum of (US$ 6.3 million dollars) to a foreign account before i step down end of this MAY 2013 , please would you be interested to assist me with your account to received this fund? let it be what i achieved this few period .

Take note: You will have 50% of the above mentioned sum if you agree , I look forward to receive your return mail for more details on how to execute the transfer to your account.

With my position i assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free. Send me your information as follows.

1. Name in full:.................
2. Address:......................
3. Nationality:..................
4. Age:..........................
5. Sex...........................
6. Occupation:...................
7. Marital status:...............
8. Your cell N0:.................

Thanks and have a great day.

NB.For security reason,You are advised to reply me here ( idemazongo at yahoo dot fr ) for more details.

Mr Idema Zongo
Interim Bank Manager.

Just a note, if you are so privileged to receive such an idiotic and inane invitation from some self-proclaiming Interim Bank Manager, make sure that you do NOT open the email, click any embedded link, respond, or send any of your vital and personal information. Who knows what may lurk within the electrodes and electrical synapses of Internetland. Junk it! Trash it! Play it safe.

And just remember that the request does not necessarily have to come from Africa or France... I did receive something similar just the other day from right here in Florida.

And a new movie this morning for my Trek viewing pleasure, 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Sherlock Holmes – Robert Downey Jr.; Doctor Watson – Jude Law. Once again I am watching an action movie to check to see if my source of adrenalin has an effect on the speed of my cycling. The first half of the movie, even though enjoyable and a late 19th Century thrill ride, caused me to slow down and spend an extra 10 minutes burning the 601 calories. My deduction, I had to mentally focus on the dialogue and Robert Downey Jr.’s fake accent to actually catch what was being said. I’m enjoying the film, and I certainly do not want to miss anything in this cat-and-mouse chase.

We have begun a new experimental and learning quilt – Tampa Kaleidoscope. This in a new step, maybe I should say steps, in the process of our quilt making. Make sure you check my soon update and follow Andy’s and my progress of this new quilting experience at Quilts SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 146 – Jim’s Trek – 20.0 Miles – 1,429 More Miles To Go on my Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today I traveled 20.0 miles on my Schwinn 150 Trek. I have now passed the 2,600 mile mark – 2,601.9 miles. I am now averaging 18.1 miles a day. And I’m still in Manitoba closing in on my 21st Interlake address goal. (You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.)

I’m headed south on Manitoba 7 and located at the northern end of the Old Highway. Accordingly from my current location I now have a remaining 1,429 miles to reach my final destination in Seattle, Washington.

And I've been in one of those funks like “I want to eat well, but I don’t want to cook, and I really do not want to go to a restaurant” type of moods. And so I’m searching for those type of recipes that I really couldn't care less about the cooking part but ones that will take no time at all but yet will taste as good as if I spent all my effort and time in the preparation.


And what does one do when one has two left feet and today is the celebration of Dance Day? I suppose I could learn the Macarena or the Gangnam Style.

Speed did work, that is, the second half of the movie. My time to burn 606 calories, 1 hour and 4 minutes… and I traveled 20.miles. Not a very scientific study but, I wonder if I find some other visual clues, like fast-paced action movies that may, or not, increase my adrenalin and therefore increase my stamina on my Schwinn 150.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 145 – Jim’s Trek – 19.4 Miles – 604 Calories Burned in Manitoba

Good Day,

Today I clocked 19.4 miles and I still burned 604 miles on my Schwinn 150. My goal is 600 burned calories a day. I am headed south on Manitoba 7, and the landscape is somewhat… well I can see for miles and miles and miles.

My total miles equal 2,581.9, and I have reached another goal. My belly measurement is down another inch to 35”. I have now dropped 9-inches from my starting point of 44”. This Trek is definitely working.

And there is something I do not understand. Today is Workers’ Memorial Day… and today is Sunday. This is a day of commemoration of those who died at work and an attempt to try and promote safer working conditions… But today is Sunday, usually considered a day of rest. Wouldn’t it be more effective to the intent if the commemoration was held on a day of work, and not necessarily on a date of an anniversary?

My Kabocha plant/vine, aka Audrey 3 ½ is certainly surprising me. I bought a Kabocha squash at the market a number of months ago. I really did like this squash and I prepared it by cutting and slicing it, without peeling it, cleaning out the seeds and then sprinkling it with olive oil, salt and pepper and baking it in an oven. Something possessed me to keep and plant the seeds in the front yard. It has grown, and grown, and spread up and out. Today I was surprised when I discovered a number of squash blossoms on the vine. Who knows that Audrey 3 ½ may be providing us with a supply of progeny.

On the marquee today is the 1994 movie Speed. Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, Jeff Daniels – these are the good guys; Dennis Hopper – the bad guy. The pace of the first half of the movie must have increased my adrenalin as I reduced the time on my Schwinn 150 by nine minutes even though I burned 604 calories. My time on the cycle was 1 hour and 1 minute. I wonder if the second half of the movie tomorrow will have the same effect.

The Amulet quilt has been loaded to our Longarm. First step is to secure the sandwich by quilting in the ditch. The fabric has been chosen for our new experiment Tampa Kaleidoscope.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 144 – Jim’s Trek – 21.2 Miles – 20th Interlake Goal Reached

Good Day,

And today I reached my 20th Interlake Goal on my Tampa to Seattle Trek. This one goal is a wee bit out of the way. (Ya think?) My goal is the Interlake Homes at Winnipeg Beach in Manitoba, Canada. This Goal is at the 2,557th mile of my Trek. Not really sure where the Interlake Homes are, but this is, the image to the right, where Google map directions led me, eh.

This morning after 21.2 miles I have now completed 2,562.5. I am now headed west again… (Yeah, that’s the right way to Seattle.) I am located at MB-231W about 5.7 miles west of the Town of Gimli, Manitoba, on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. And I’m now have in sights my 21st Interlake address goal location.

Spring is here in the northern hemisphere and today is Sense of Smell Day. Achoo… thank you allergies. Today is the day to promote one’s proboscis.

Episode 1 and 2 of VEEP… How do brainless politicians sell their lives to manipulate and be “Gepetto-ized”? It is pointless to ask why. The best of the VPs’ and VP-wanna-bees’ gaffes and conundrums are well written into the script of the Second Season of VEEP.

Top of our Equality Quilt completed. Now the quilting begins. It is a big quilt. Stay tuned to Quilts SB for updates.


And the squirrels are teasing the hell out of The Rats and Radar.  They jump from the trees to the top of the screen, to the white bird of paradise, then scurry along the screen, back-and-forth, back-and-forth... I believe that they are doing it on purpose.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 143 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles – IT Does Get Bloody Cold!

Good Day,

Today I finished 20.8 miles on my Schwinn 150 Trek. I am now located at a point on MB-8 N and just about at the intersection of Matlock Road. I am to the west of Matlock and Lake Winnipeg. Matlock is really a resort community with a very small number of year-round residents. Matlock is considered the southernmost part of the Village of Dunnotar; full-time population in somewhere in the vicinity of 670.

It appears that I am in the middle of almost nowhere. But… when I check out my location on a satellite picture from Google, it looks like I am just about smack dab in the middle of the North American continent.

Manitoba might be a very nice place to move to… but it gets bloody cold!!!

And today I celebrate Pretzel Day and I have completed 2,541.3 miles.

I watched the last two episodes of VEEP while cycling this morning. I keep having to say to myself that this is just a TV show, that this is not the real life of the political circles in our glorious nation’s capital. But writers do have to have sources and roots for their thoughts and ideas. It truly is a very funny and riotous presentation of the foibles of our illustrious elected officials… and the nannies, and paper pushers, and power-hungry wanna-bees. On to Season Two.

EssbeeCon has arrived in Denver. The border has been attached to our new Equality quilt. The Amulet has been loaded to our Longarm and the new quilting design is in process. A new wall hanging, Ladies on The Boardwalk is going to muslin. And we’ve begun another new quilt – Tampa Kaleidoscope. Updates always at Quilts SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 142 – Jim’s Trek – 22.2 Miles - I've Reached 2,500 Mile Goal

Good Day,

Today I completed 22.2 miles on my Schwinn 150 Trek. I was a wee bit slower this morning but I still burned my goal of 600 calories. I am located on MB-8 headed north just bearing down on Fort Gary Road. I have now completed 2,520.5 miles. Who’d have ever thought that in five months I would have cycled just more than 2,500 miles? Definitely not I…and I’m still working at it.

The label "B" marks my present location.

Last night supper was Garlicky Shrimp with Broccoli and Pasta. Very simple and quick to put together. It was actually not bad, and my blood glucose this morning registered 99 milligrams per deciliter. And I’ve cut my diabetes meds by half. Must be doing something right; normal range is 70 to 100 mpd.

This morning's viewing pleasure was two episodes of HBOs VEEP starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. A very well written and sarcastic look at the office of the Vice President. It also presents tongue-in-cheek  idiosyncrasies of the role(s) of politicians and their staff.

Our Cosmo's Moon has arrived in Salt Lake City.  Yeah!  The borders have been added to our Equality quilt.  It is going to be a large and brilliant quilt.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 141 – Jim’s Trek – 21.7 Miles – Winnipeg, Manitoba

Good Day,

Today’s Trek on my Schwinn 150 has me cycling into Winnipeg, Manitoba. I am located on St. Mary’s Road at the intersection of Fermor Avenue. I am hungry for breakfast and I have decided to stop in at Junior’s. According to Yelp reviews, food ranks at 4 ½ Stars.

This morning I journeyed 21.7 and I have now racked up 2,498.3 miles. My side trip to Winnipeg and beyond has taken me a wee bit north, on my route to Seattle. I think I will be turning west in a couple of days. My daily target of 600 calories burned was reached.

And now I really can’t believe the absurdity of some banks. I had to replace the air conditioning/heat pump in the house a couple of months back. The decision was made to take a quick no-interest-pay-back-in-12-months’ loan. Up to this point no problem. The payments have been going fine and an additional number of repayments were made to get it off the debt books as quickly as possible, even before the 12-month period runs down.

Repayments have been a relatively simple electronic procedure – I initiate an electronic instruction from my bank account which creates an electronic withdrawal of the funds from my main bank, another financial institution. All of a sudden I was stopped from making any more electronic payments. (I still could make payments by mail or by phone.) Electronically, which I feel is the quickest, simplest, and cleanest… and note, this is what I used to do for a living on behalf of the companies I worked for… I tried to initiate an additional electronic transaction. I was stymied. I could not understand why the electronic banking system would not work or allow me to send any more money.

I finally called the financial institutions Customer Service… (the Call Center was obviously somewhere in North America), and explained my predicament. After a couple of minutes, and a very polite Call Center Representative, it was explained to me that, conditionally, I was only allowed to initiate three electronic payments to my account during the course of any one month. Damn, I can’t even make extra electronic payments to my outstanding loan if I want to. The bank, which is named for an early postal service, does not want to allow me to send them money to pay off my debt. This is definitely one for the books.

This morning, for my viewing pleasure, I decided to enjoy another Sir John Gielgud movie endeavor, Arthur. Classic lines…and British sarcasm, Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli  Sir John Gielgud garnered an Oscar for his best supporting role.

On the menu, at home tonight is my attempt at Spaghetti with Garlicky Shrimp and Broccoli. We’ll see...but it does sound good.

Our quilts - Coral Steps, Colored Windows II, and MEM911 - have arrived in Galway, Ireland. Cosmo’s Moon has made it to Salt Lake City and is scheduled to be delivered today. EssbeeCon has just left Lenexa, Kansas enroute to Denver. Check out their images on The Grid at our Quilts SB site.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 140 – Jim’s Trek – 20.6 Miles – A Good Day For Housework and Cycling and Quilting and Piano and Eating

Good Day,

This morning housework first, then my Trek, and then into the swimming pool. I completed 20.6 miles and I am now located, still on the Lord Selkirk Highway at Ste. Agathe, Manitoba, in Canada. I am still headed north, on my Schwinn 150, to my next Interlake address goal.

Ste Agathe is a diked village of about 500, on the banks of the Red River… is always prone to flood damage. The inserted image, to the left is circa 1915.  Today, in Sainte Agathe, it is -1°C and feels like -3°C. (Translated - 30°F and feels like 27°F.) And I was just in the swimming pool in my backyard.

My stats -

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	2,476.6	1,556.0	75.03%	4,032.6	167.8

Today is World Book Day, organized by UNESCO… to promote reading, publishing and copyright. And this is Independence Day for the Conch Republic of Key West, Florida.

My Trek entertainment was the second half of the 1986 movie The Canterville Ghost. I think I appreciated it more after I read the Wikipedia write-up and learned a wee bit of the intent of Oscar Wilde’s study in contrasts.

Today is a great day…according to my Biorhythms. Mind you, my pockets are empty.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 139 – Jim’s Trek – 21.4 Miles – From This Valley They Say You are Trekking…

Good Day,

The day begins. Out of bed, the Pack goes out, there is a cacophony of five canines demanding their repast, the barking, the howling, the growling, the bowls are filled and placed on the floor, the noisy slurping and chomping of kibbles and bits, the meds apportioned, the testing for sugar levels, a quiet hush falls over the house. Computers are turned on. My Trek begins.

This morning I completed 21.4 miles on my Schwinn 150 Trek and I burned 602 calories. I am currently located on the Lord Selkirk Highway just south of Morris, Manitoba. The highway seems to parallel the Red River. I have now completed 2,456.0 miles of my Tampa to Seattle Trek. And since I began this journey I am now averaging 17.9 miles each day that I get on my Schwinn 150. I haven’t given out, nor have I given up.

Finished the last part of Soul Kitchen… all the complications worked out. Typical “nice” German movie with English subtitles of a main character wanting to succeed, experiencing every type of physical, relationship and business-type problem…dann all Ende gut.

I next tuned in the Sir John Gielgud’s 1986 made-for-TV version of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost. I watched the first half. Fair…but I really prefer the original 1944 version.

Cosmos’ Moon just left Salina, Kansas this morning as EssbeeCon just arrived in Doraville, Georgia. Our three – Coral Steps, Colored Windows II, and MEM911 are in preparation from Illinois to Ireland. And construction on our new Equality quilt continues. Check out Quilts SB for our updates and progress.

And no, it is not me on the banjo... Nor the fiddle.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 138 – Jim’s Trek – 22.5 Miles – O Canada

Good Day,

Today I cycled 22.5 miles and I crossed the border from North Dakota, United States into Manitoba, Canada. O Canada…and I am now north of the town of Altona, “The Sunflower Capital of Canada”… And the temperature in Altona is 0°C (32°F)… It is somewhat cool in Tampa. Right now 68°F (20°C).

And you say that my compass on my Schwinn 150 must be a wee bit on the fritz? I'm on MB-30 N. Yes I am headed north, and yes I am still on my way to Seattle…but I have just discovered another Interlake address point, and of course I have to add to my list of sub-goals of my Trek.

As of today I have cycled 2,434.6 miles on my Trek from Tampa to Seattle, with a few tangents and detours.

Abu Ye! Abu Ye Abu ye! Abu ye! Don’t get your feet wet on this holy Grounation Day.

Why is today also Kindergarten Day? It is a Sunday… and are not the ankle-biters are at home?

Supper last night – Camarones Rancheros and Spicy Thai Cucumber Salad. A mixing of cultures but the fusion plate really tasted good together.

This morning for my viewing pleasure I watched the first two-thirds of a German movie, subtitled in English, about a young Greek man trying to succeed as the owner of a restaurant in a warehouse in Hamburg. The movie, Soul Kitchen, kept me enthralled as I read the sub-titles that I kept on cycling for a total hour and 20 minutes. A fair movie but this definitely says something about driving and reading the electronic billboards on the side of roads while paying attention to traffic.

And so today I cover a sound culture of many: American, Canadian, German, Greek, Jamaican, Ethiopian, Mexican, and Thai. What can I say? I enjoy myself. My weight just went up one pound but my waist is still measuring at 36 inches. I've lost eight inches on my waist and am secretly trying for another four inches. We’ll see.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 137 – Jim’s Trek – 20.4 Miles – The Tudors Finale

Good Day,

The young man is now in custody.

This morning I seemed to be a wee bit more enthusiastic regarding my cycling on my Schwinn 150. I burned 601 calories and completed 20.4 miles. To date I have now clocked 2,412.1 miles. My time is now 1 hour and just under 6 minutes. My weight is remaining stable at 167.6 lbs.

Today I cycled by Cavalier, North Dakota and I am located on ND 18 N just north of 96th Street NE. Cavalier’s apparent claim to fame; it was founded in 1877 and its zip code is 58220. I now have 146 miles to reach my next Interlake address goal and I have 1,609 miles remaining in my Trek to my ultimate Seattle goal.

I missed noting that yesterday was DNA Day… and now I understand why I received so many unsolicited emails inciting me to have my DNA tested. And today is somewhere lost in the past. It is Record Store Day. With digital music, iTunes, and Amazon, I suppose I could bring out my old vinyl albums and decorate for this evening’s supper.

And today, on my Schwinn 150, I watched the final episode of The Tudors. Charles of Suffolk passes away. Henry prepares for his own death. Holbein is commissioned to capture an ultimate portrait of His Majesty. Now I must find a new visual and mental stimulus to preoccupy me while I am exercising on my Schwinn 150. The second season of Continuum begins tomorrow. I was thinking about working with Warehouse 13 and with Mad Men. My secret to working my exercise is to ensure that there are no commercial breaks included in what I am watching. It works for me.

Our EssbeeCon quilt is on route to the Denver National Quilt Festival VIII. Work continues now on the borders for our new Equality quilt. And Cosmo’s Moon arrived in Jacksonville, Florida this morning on its trip to the Home Machine Quilt Show in Salt Lake City.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 136 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles – Cycling in the Hinterland of North Dakota

Good Day,

My thoughts are that there be no more tragic incidents in the current pursuit of the Boston Marathon violence suspect. And is the media ever doing the job by dragging out every question and response to the nth degree, especially when “a couple of cars are beginning to move…” and “…a couple of cars moved in, and a couple of cars pulled out…”

I completed my daily cycling on my Schwinn 150 Trek. I finished 20.8 miles and burned 601 calories. I am still headed north on North Dakota 18 N, also known as 140th Avenue NE. I have just crossed over 80th Street NE. The roadway scenery has not changed, fields and woods and road as far as my eye can see.

Hoople, nicknamed “Tatertown”, North Dakota is just southwest, a short distance from where I am. The 2010 population of this Tatertown was about 242. Hoople is best known for the location of the University of Southern North Dakota… a fictional university created by the comedic musician and composer Peter Schickele, aka P.D.Q. Bach. Okay…



Peter Schickele, in the above YouTube video is the commentator who spends Christmas at his part-time job.

And it is now 28°F in the area near and around where I’m at. I did pass by a couple of modern-style homesteads built for the region.

The Tudors – Penultimate episode of The Tudors. Henry is old. Henry is moving slowly. Henry believes that everyone is out to get into position. Increased angst between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants... the Reformation is confused.

All 81 9-inch block of our new Equality quilt have been joined together. Now the corners and the border are in progress. We are thrilled at the combination of the fabric colors. I am currently working on the quilting pattern. Check our status and progress on Quilts SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 135 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles – iPhone Diagnosis

Good Day,


This morning I truly did not want to get on my Schwinn 150 and continue with my Trek… but I pulled myself up on the cycle and I completed 20.8 miles. I burned 602 calories. I endure, and so bloody glad that I did. I kept repeating to myself: I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this. Total mileage completed to date is 2,370.9.

I am headed north on ND 18 N and just about at 59th Street NE.

According to an interpretation of my Physical Biorhythm is that I am recharging in my low period. I am moving upwards into my positive range and should move into the “better” half of the cycle within the next couple of days. Today I am at, according to my biorhythm, at a “Physical low phase”. I need to “rest, regenerate powers, accumulate energy.”

The graph is from MultiBiorhythm.

And I do like the quote of the day attributed to Albert Einstein –

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

Thank you PC for sending me the following about Dr. Eric Topol and the technology of the future of medicine. Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=r13uYs7jglg Amazing!!!

The Tudors episode update – England takes Bologne. Henry’s getting old. The Catholics are plotting to burn the heretics, and the beat goes on.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 134 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles - And I Love to Cook

Good Day,

This morning I cycled on my Schwinn 150 through Larimore, North Dakota. My 20.5 miles today has me now located, headed north on 37th Street NE and just north of 20th Avenue NE. I am now approximately 209 miles from my next Interlake address goal. Stay tuned to see if I make this 20th Goal.

My numbers are stable and constant, this morning. I have completed 71.2% of my original Tampa to Seattle Trek. I am now beginning to add some extra miles and more Interlake address goals.

Supper, last night, was Vietnamese Stir-Fried Scallops on Rice noodles. Damn, I really do love to cook… especially when I too enjoy the meal. I love to experiment with food… and always dare myself to try something new.

The Tudors – Henry and England goes to war against France. Queen Catherine is left in charge… Obviously this war dragged out for some time as the episode ends with Henry surveying the battlefield and the ramparts of Boulogne.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 133 – Jim’s Trek – 20.9 Miles – 19th Interlake Goal Achieved

Good Day,

I completed my Trek miles today and then I spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon babysitting my Grandson. Play time, lunch fed and play time again, Grandpa is certainly due for a nap. The Kid was out like a light. And now I am seated writing up my Schwinn 150 Trek.

I burned, pre-Kid, 601 calories and I cycled 20.9 miles. I reached my 19th Interlake address goal this morning. From my starting point I first cycled on my Schwinn 150 13.7 miles to Interlake Road in Hatton, North Dakota. I had to back track to County Highway 8 for the remainder of my morning miles. I have now completed a total of 2,329.6 miles. I am now located and headed north on County Highway 8.

I'm somewhere in the west of North Dakota. I am southwest of the City of Grand Forks, ND.

Henry VIII obviously had something for women who had the name Catherine. He, in this episode of The Tudors meets, soon to be widow, Catherine Parr. The Catholics in power are trying to stamp any shred of Protestantism. I don’t know if there was some dramatic license, but I never realized the amount of torture that may have been used during the period of the English Reformation.

Red fabric arrived, washed and the blocks for our Equality quilt are in process. Minor changes to the original design have been made, specifically to create interesting corners. The design for our new quilt Waterfall is well on the way.

Scallops for dinner tonight.

Be healthy, and enjoy.

Jim

Day 132 – Jim’s Trek – 20.2 Miles – 69.94% Completed On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning on Day 132 of my Schwinn 150 Trek I burned off 600 calories; translated 20.2 miles. I am located at N Dakota 18 N/N Dakota 200 W, northwest of Portland, North Dakota. My Google image doesn’t show much white on the ground. The temperature at Portland is now 31°F and there is a 90% chance of snow. One thing positive about the white stuff, the pollen count is 1 out of 12… On the other hand, the pollen count in Tampa is 8.5 out of 12. Bless you.

I think the weather reporting at Wunderground is a bit screwy. It is reporting that the temperature right now at my home in Tampa is 96.3°F. I think that someone incorrectly entered the external thermometer.

This morning I have now hit 69.94% of my original Tampa to Seattle goal. My total miles clocked to date are 2,308.7. I will probably hit my 19th Interlake address goal tomorrow.

Yesterday I was playing songs for CK on my iPhone… As soon as Bob Marley’s Buffalo Soldiers began, CK was smiling and bouncing… and he appeared to be singing each time the chorus began “Woy, yoy, yoy…”


The Tudors – Scratch off Dereham, Culpeper, Lady Northrup, and Catherine Howard.  Chopped off heads, hangings, and quartering.  That was this episode. New season of The Borgias began... Somewhat confusing, more people dying and being killed. I also started watching the new PBS miniseries Mr. Selfridge about the creation of a new-type of department store in 1908 London. And Game of Thrones, Season 3 and Episode 3 is confusing. Some much information, so little time. And did someone say I was NOT into series?

Waiting for red fabric for our Equality quilt. To be delivered today. First draft of Waterfall quilt completed. Cosmo’s Moon quilt wall hanging is now undergoing our final examine before shipping. To date 2,923 people have tuned in and checked out our Cosmo’s Moon on Quilts SB Facebook. I need to examine the status of all our quilts and wall hangings in progress. Tune in to Quilts SB.

I am now examining a remake of my A Genealogy Hunt site. This will take some time as I have already posted 1,063 Posts. Thank you Bernard and Kathrine. I will definitely take suggestions.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 131 – Jim’s Trek – 20.1 Miles – No Icebergs

Good Day,

I’m watching for icebergs, maybe ice flows, today on the 101st anniversary of the disaster of the Titanic. And of course, today, where I am at on the road, there is a strong prediction of snow. It is mostly cloudy and feels like 20°F. And call this happenstance or what? Just after I wrote my previous sentences about the 101st I then checked today’s news and encounter the headline from USA Today “1 Missing in Avalanches East of Seattle.” Coincidental? On the other hand it feels like 72°F in Tampa. Hurray for my Schwinn 150.

This morning, after my first day off, I completed my goal of burning 602 calories; translated 20.1 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes. I am now located just on the northern edge of the Township of Blanchard, North Dakota. I think that this is the smallest town that I have cycled through so far. The 2010 population was 26. I’m just about at the junction of North Dakota State Highway 18 and ND State Highway 200. I have now completed 2,288.5 miles on my Trek from Tampa to Seattle.

Blanchard’s claim to fame… Just about 6 miles away is the tallest man-made structure in the western hemisphere, the KVLY-TV mast.

Queen Catherine’s earlier paramour, Francis Dereham, appears on the scene in today’s episode of The Tudors. He blackmails his way into the Royal service, and his drunken bouts may speed up his downfall. Charles, much to his chagrin, keeps encountering the ghost of Jean Valjean aka Lord Darcy.

Blue and yellow blocks and rows completed for Equality quilt. Red fabric should arrive tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates and our progress at Quilts SB. A new design, Waterfall, is now in the works, a combination between traditional and contemporary. I think this will be a simple but classic looking quilt. We’re trying to increase of Likes on Quilts SB Facebook to hit a 500 goal.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim