Day 422 – (AD 852) – 22.4 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – Early Morning Power On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

solitude, ka-92 at DeviantArt 

Power cut out just as soon as I finished my pedaling on my Schwinn 170. I did cycle 22.4 miles this morning.

And they are delivering the washer and dryer just at about this time. Bloody hell... Something somewhere in this vast and puny location of the cosmos is trying to tell me to tell my laundry to go to hell. Suppose I could do it in the pool, or maybe even in the lake in the back. But I'm not traipsing through the bush and swamp and slapping at the blood bombers and the arachnids with the knee socks.

Right now my iPad is at 100%. According to Tampa Electric the guesstimate to fix the problem will take about 4 hours. Patience James.

The Pack are amazed at how quiet the house is right now. The two sounds I hear are a plane flying overhead and my stomach gurgling.

Power outage due to SUV contact with power company transformer around the corner. Everything back up in 1 hour.

Today I did pedal 22.4 miles on my Schwinn 170. My totals now – 17,786.9 miles; 28,625.3 kilometers.

I am now, virtually located on National Highway A1 in Clairview in Queensland. 205 more miles to my next destination and goal point.

Okay, okay I have to stop. Of late I’m not considering the food that I’m shoving down my gullet. My blood sugar is beginning to creep, ever so slowly, upwards. Not a good sign Smith. I need some sort of vocal gizmo or techno app that repeats the message “Danger, Will Robinson, danger.” This morning’s blood sugar was up another 5 points.

Tomorrow begins our hurricane season. Predictions are that is should be a relatively quiet one. Current NOAA forecast for the Atlantic “Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 48 hours.”

And noting the blowhards and the full-of-winds, you’d better sharpen your pencils and count your chads. Two more have thrown in their hats – O’Malley and Pataki. Count is now 11.

Did you know that that there are more fake flamingos in the world than real ones… and most are in Quebec? Thank you Jim Muller.

And I wonder how senility may be setting in? I am beginning to build the thrill that today I am finally able to do laundry, the new washer and dryer have been delivered and set up. No more stomping in the shower stall.

This is my 911th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 70,336 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 421 – (AD 851) – 22.3 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – And On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 22.3 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals today – 17,764.5 miles; 28,589.3 kilometers. This is the real part of the exercise routine.

And now for the virtual part of the journey in my mind.

I am headed south on Bruce Highway and I am in the area of Ilbilbie, still in Queensland. My locations appears to be a nice quiet country road. I am at Lot 56 according to Google Maps. Next I have another 227 miles to my next destination and goal point.

Max definitely follows my pedaling procedure…and he does keep up with is cardio.

I guess the sampling of the foods and the Cuban Libres at the Gala last night bumped up my early morning blood sugar count to 109. And if I can register an A1c of 5.35% guess the rum jump (not a Junkanoo) is a definite few and far between.

GS, thanks for the meet and the compliment. Yes the virtual part is just a part of my crazy mind.

Our Equality quilt has a new owner and home in Florida. Yeah, and congratulations T and T.

Work continues on Moon Over Bayshore. Quilting stitch count – 130,000.

Crane #6 for Hope completed. At this rate; 45 minutes per Crane we’ll finish all 1,000 in 31 days working 24/7. Bloody hell.

Got a real craving from some Paella Valenciana or some Taylor Pork Roll and Pasta.  Hell I've always said that I like the extremes.

This is my 910th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 70,285 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 420 – (AD 850) – 22.2 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – Continuing On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 22.2 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 17,742.2 miles; 28,553.4 kilometers.

Just 249 miles to go to get to my next destination and goal point.

At this point in time I am, virtually located at Lot 107 on Bruce Highway in Bakers Creek, Queensland. I am headed south. All-things-being-equal only 13.1% remaining of my Trek Part III.

Yesterday I mentioned that I had reached my 17th destination and goal point of my Part III Trek in Australia. I have been able to compose an almost and close-to route map of my virtual journey thus far. (The new Google Maps only allows 10 locations per map.)

Our Equality Quilt will be auctioned off tonight at the Equality Florida 2015 Greater St. Petersburg Gala at the Mahaffey Theater. Wonder who’s home will be it’s new home?

This is my 909th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 70,046 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 419 – (AD 849) – 22.3 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – A Couple of Milestones On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I cycled another 22.3 miles in 72 minutes at a 12 resistance on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 17,720.0 miles; 28,517.6 kilometers.

And today my Jim’s Trek blog clocked 70,007 pageviews. The daily average of pageviews has increased by 1 to 77 a day. Thank you. (This is my 908th post.)

This morning I reached Mackay, my 17th of 20 destinations and goal points on this weird and crazy Trek, Jim’s Trek III. In Australia I have now pedaled 9,097.7 miles; 14,641.14 kilometers. At this 17th point of Part III I have cycled 51.36% of my overall mileage of 17,714.8 miles. I am astounded that I have been able to keep this up on this 849th day of pedaling. (That’s 59 days of no pedaling since 2 December 2012.) Narcissistic or not, and whether you read this or not, I am just gonna keep going. Period.

And I continued past Mackay for another 5.2 miles in Queensland. I am now headed in a southerly direction and I have another 271 miles to go to get to my next, 18th destination and goal point.

According to my calculation I still have about, give or take, about 13.3% of the distance remaining to cross my finish line.

And all I can say is that if a major appliance should just so happen to breakdown and has to be replaced I am damn for sure thankful that it happened on Memorial Day weekend. Yes I had to get a new washing machine. Only in America.


Another has thrown his hat into the fray. A new candidate, Rick Santorum tweeted, “Today I announce my candidacy for President of the United States.” And if you’re a Republican you’ve got a lot of studying to do, that is if you intend on choosing a reasonable and credible candidate.

The fifth Origami Crane block has been finished for our quilt composition Hope.  Follow our updates at Quilts SB.

This is my 908th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 70,002 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 418 – (AD 848) – 22.3 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – What Can I Say On My Schwinn 170?

Good Day,

No issues or problems with the stress test yesterday. Echocardiogram next week. Just routine due to age. Has anyone ever deciphered Juan Ponce de León’s personal notes?

This morning I cycled 22.3 miles on my Schwinn 170. My totals – 17,697.7 miles; 28,481.8 kilometers.

And today I am located at 17.2 miles from my next destination and goal point. I’m at Lot 40 on Bruce Highway. Virtually, I cycled from Pindi Pindi to Hampden in Queensland.

Archer Farms’ Chocolate Carmel Nut Medley is my downfall. It’s those bags of chocolates at 9:00 pm. The chocolates are not in a box making me to choose only two. In a bag I just keep plopping them in. The chocolates that should be in neat little compartments but are in a jumble in the bag until I realize that I have eaten half the bag instead of closing the box until tomorrow. If I have to blame someone I’ll blame Archer Farms… But they are so good. My blood sugar was up this morning by 12 points to 114. Guess what, no Archer Farms tonight.

BBC News (this morning) “Same-sex marriage: Irish vote ‘defeat for humanity’ says Vatican official” – Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.

Question – What happened to the Apocalypse? What about pedophilia? What about the Reichskonkordat? Think I’ll wait for the Four Horsemen.

The Riders of the Apocalypse, Daniel Peron

And this is one thing that I understand about sports “ ‘two generations of soccer officials’ used partnerships with sports marketing executives to solicit $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for, among other things...” (USA Today, May 27, 2015.)

According to Cap Times editor Dave Zweifel “Texas Sen. Ted Cruz”, a would-be candidate for the Presidency, recently stated “that he understood the concerns given a federal government that for six years has been ‘disrespecting the liberty of its citizens’.” And now in The Dallas Morning News “Obama confers with Gov. Abbott about Texas floods, promises quick federal aid.” (Todd J. Gillman, May 26, 2015). And in Texas is it all about having their cake and eating it too?

Turns out washing-machine tub hairline crack, which means… Damnation. Period!


This is my 907th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 69,960 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.


Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 417 1/2 – (AD 847 1/2) – 0.0 Miles ? – Jim's Trek Part III – Not On My Schwinn 170

Good day,

Today I'm not getting on my Schwinn 170. Scheduled stress test. My cardiologist decided that even though I am in relatively good condition, due to my consistent pedaling, he made mention that due to my age he felt it was time once again.

And I'm sitting in the waiting room, and another contender for the treadmill has requested that receptionist staff to switch the current TV station to a pain-in-the-ass soap opera show. The stately marm's reasoning, "I wouldn't have been able to keep me doctor's appointment if I had to miss my show." Damn hell, the intelligence of some people just amazes me.

And then she leaves the room.

Another patient registers at reception. Staff member states that her payment is required before service. "How much?" asks the elegant lady. "21- cents," is the response. "21-cents?" "You have a credit balance on your account." "A credit? How much? Since when?" "Oh it's been on the books since 2013." Damn. (That's me thinking.) A credit balance, without any notification. And I think I'm going to start a new business. Refund plus interest services for over-payment on accounts.

The paperwork/disclaimer included "there are potential risks (approximately 2-3 per 10,000) associated with an exercise stress test. These include...heart attacks or sudden death." And I'm patient number 9,997. Wonder how bright the light is?

Learned something today, the brain, itself, does not have any pain receptors. "There are no pain receptors in the brain itself. But the meninges (coverings around the brain), periosteum (coverings on the bones), and the scalp all have pain receptors. Surgery can be done on the brain and technically the brain does not feel that pain." Now I can watch an open brain surgery...I think.

This is my 906th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 69,923 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 417 – (AD 847) – 22.4 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – Mirrors On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today this virtual narcissist pedaled another 22.2 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals to date – 17,675.4 miles; 28,445.9 kilometers.

I am now located at Lot 1 on Bruce Highway. I still do not understand the “LOT” numbers as there must be some explicit reasoning for them being shown on the map…but there does not appear to be sequential justification. This time my location “LOT 1 Bruce Hwy” is in Pindi Pindi, Queensland.

And I have 39.5 more miles to go to get to my next destination and goal point. Only 13.69% of my original Trek III left. Does anyone have any suggestions for my 4th Trek? (And I do not think Google has Hell mapped as yet.)

My blood sugar was up 1 point this morning. That is if you’re interested. And no, this is not a self-scourging write-up of my thoughts. I truly do not care what anyone thinks about my journey, my Trek, or my health. I am doing this for me. I could keep my fingers quiet and allow the doctors to feed me the chemicals to help keep my diabetes in check… I could allow myself to realize a false and substance sense of well-being. Or, I could do something about it that would benefit me. My Trek, my diet, my writing, my design… No-one else but me. And yes I am ticked about the survey. I think it is BS. Just keep reading.

Guess according to the study of 555 people conducted at Brunel University London I may have very low self-esteem and I could be classified as a narcissist. Why? Because I frequently, every bloody day, update my Facebook and my Google+ pages about my “achievements” – my Trek, my quilts, my eating. Maybe so… So I am narcissist with low self-esteem based on the study’s “‘big five’ personality traits – extroversion, neuroticism, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness – as well as self-esteem and narcissism.”

Possibly a reasonable study for a PhD thesis… but a sample size of 555? Facebook last quarter passed 1.19 billion monthly active users, 874 million mobile users, and 728 million daily users. So a sample size of 555 is a credible study?

Obviously there is something wrong with Google News; well I think there is something wrong with Google News. I am/was under the impression that Google News, based on my choices, over time, would select stories and headlines that I may be interested. It is very few and far between that I pick stories about sports. I’m just not interested in the Roman ideals of the arena. Well this morning the five, that’s right the top 5 Tops News stories on my Google News was about sports – and the top one was about fake sports, Fantasy Football. The others: football, basketball, basketball, and car racing. And sure enough the next three headlines: soccer, basketball, and basketball. That’s chosen eight Top News headlines about sports. Be damned. There must be something wrong with Google’s algorithm.

Our Moon Over Bayshore quilt-wich has been loaded to our Longarm. Let the quilting begin.


Thanks to the inspiration of Mike F. Andy and I have started another new quilting project. Here are two of our goal of 1,000 blocks.  No-name yet, just Hope.

This is my 905th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 69,878 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 416 – (AD 846) – 22.1 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – Continuing On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I pedaled another 22.1 miles on my Schwinn 170. My totals – 17,653.0 miles; 28,409.8 kilometers.

I have now complete 86.1% of my Australian journey, Jim’s Trek III. And I have succeeded in pedaling 70.89% of my overall goal.

Only 62.2 miles remaining to my next destination and goal point. I located at about Lot 4 on Bruce Highway heading south and sort of a bit to the west. I’m cycling parallel to O’Connell River.

Blood sugar up 3 points this morning.

Supper last night – an attempt on Emeril Lagasse’s Harira: Moroccan Chickpea Stew with Chicken and Lentils. And of course I had a second helping.


Read article by Steve Bousquet of the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau, “The perpetual campaign of Gov. Rick Scott” (May 24, 2015).

Yep, he hit the nail on the head.

“Scott is not always consistent on matters of substance. Take education funding or Medicaid expansion, for example. But he is on matters of style…

“The only thing Rick Scott has succeeded at is twice winning close elections,” says Darryl Paulson, professor emeritus of political science at USF St. Petersburg and an outspoken Scott critic. Paulson, a Republican, says Scott is weakened by a team of inexperienced advisers, a lack of familiarity with the political process and an inability to interact with legislators, which becomes glaring at times like the present, during a tense stalemate over health care policy.”

Just wondering about some of the current national social controversies recently surfaced in the media.

Not getting too preachy or stuffed-shirt, I have always tried to avoid hypocrisy. I do not have many of the answers, but I know that I try to search for myself a modicum of understanding.


And Republican candidate Huckabee should take to mind Matthew 7:15.

Question – Does anyone have a reverse-aging process? I would like to turn back my clock and enlist for an astronaut program and sign up for the first and furthest distance location away from this planet.

This is my 904th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 69,757 Pageviews. Pageviews are certainly increasing, thank you: May 2012 – 0; May 2013 – 1,927; May 2014 – 2,270; and May 2015, to date – 2,327. And still 8 days to go.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 415 – (AD 845) – 22.2 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – Back On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

And of course I had to get on my Schwinn 170 this morning. I pedaled another 22.2 miles and I have now increased my total miles to 17,630.9; kilometers to 28,374.3.

I am now headed south and still on Bruce Highway. This time my location is about 13421-13453. I am just north of Myrtlevale, Queensland.

And should I consider it there’s a Prawn Farm on the Gregory River that’s up for sale, approximately 5,000 acres. Must be a lot of prawns? And I wonder what size branding iron a prawn rancher must use?

My new viewing companion is now Defiance, a science fiction TV series involving humans and Voltans. Of course this is my genre type of screen watching and it certainly permits me to pedal to my heart’s content. And there are no commercials.

Pasta alla Norma alla Smith, a Sicilian dish. One could say a vegetarian meal, is something I would make again. Ingredients: Linguine, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Chilies, Tomato Pasta, Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil, Parmesan Romano Cheese, Salt, Oregano, Parsley. Filling and delicious, and who’d a think that eggplant could be so deceptive…in a very positive way.

Oh yeah, my early morning blood sugar count dropped 15 points to 99. And who was Norma? Supposedly named for the opera Norma by Vincenzo Bellini.

Is it possible that the credibility of a good candidate for any political office is the one who may be the least hypocritical?

This is my 903rd post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 69,505 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 414 ½ – (AD 844 ½) – 0.0 Miles – Jim's Trek Part III – Day of Rest Off My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I decided that my legs needed a rest after cycling 15 consecutive days.  No Schwinn 170. 15 days equaled 334.3 miles. Overall total now stands at 17,608.7 miles; 28,338.5 kilometers.  844 days of pedaling.

I now have about 1,300 more miles to go to complete my Jim’s Trek III. I am trying to decide where in the world to complete my overall of another 6,000 miles once I am finished with Australia. Any ideas?

Washing machine STILL not working.

Blame it on the computer for sending the incorrect parts. The two parts on the order screen had a difference of two bloody zeros; “00001234” versus “001234”. And today I still do not have a functioning washing machine. Two bloody zeros. When is it that we as human beings now have to be thinking as, in tandem with, a machine? Two bloody zeros!!!

My blood sugar is up to 114 this morning. I suppose a complete arugula, pine nuts and prosciutto pizza at a late hour may have had something to do with the spike. I wonder whether, even though it was a thin crust, the fact that I pigged down the whole medium size pizza may just have had something to do with the jump? But I tell you something, Flippers Pizzeria Arugula & Prosciutto Pizza is one of my favorites.

Tonight for supper I’m going to try and make Mark Bittman’s Pasta all Norma. Sicilian pasta dish of sautéed eggplant tossed with tomato sauce and topped with ricotta salata.

Got to check out our quilting schedule. A number of projects are currently on our plate, and we’ve been asked to add some new ones. Busy times at the fabric sweat shop.

I have decided to fight back against unsolicited phone calls. I have registered with the FTC National Do Not Call Registry. This morning I received the umpteenth call about “solar energy”. I consider myself an educated person and I think I know a tad something about “solar energy”. Well I know, after having received a number of “solar energy” unsolicited phone calls the intent of the call is to get into my space and sell me some gizmo or system that will assist me with solar energy. I immediately hung up and I recorded and reported the call to the FTC National Do Not Call Registry.

Will something come of this? Hell if I know. Do I feel better? And I can’t even slam the phone down. Not sure, will have to wait and see.

This is my 902nd post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this morning, 69,505 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek.

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim