Day 169 – (AD 1,074) – 22.5 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I cycled, and I didn’t want to even get on, another 22.5 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals today are 22,890.2 miles; 36,838.3 kilometers.

I had to leave the “beaten path” and get back on the highway. Google Maps has me located at Strada Statale 106 Jonica, 75025 Zona Art. D1 MT, Italy. And as always I am pedaling, virtually, just in front of the Google mobile.

I am down to 8.1% remaining of my overall journey.

Quiet day today, mind quiet that is.  It is the Leap Day.


This is my 1,166th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 87,011 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 168 – (AD 1,073) – 24.7 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Longest Distance On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 24.7 miles on my Schwinn 170. This is the longest distance I have traveled, albeit pedaled, on my fitness cycle in my self-allotted 72 minutes. The previous distance top was 24.1 miles this past February 14th.

Clocking my time at 60 minutes, I ad pedaled 20.4 miles. My resistance on the 170 for this ride was 15/25. I thought that I would be getting slower as I put on the days, months and years. What can I say?

Today I decided to get off the highway. I definitely found an off-the-beat track. According to Google Maps I am now located at SP253, 198, 87075 Trebisacce CS, Italy. I have another 170 miles to go to get to the heel of the boot.

Supper last night was Punahou Portuguese Bean Soup. My blood sugar this morning registered at 117.  March 1st begins a regime of meals to bring the number down.

Kumquat's Lorax - 2012
JS A

3 1/2-year old grandson decided that for Show-N-Tell beginning with the letter "Q" at school he had to take his Quilt from Grandpa and Grandy.






And the who-supports-whom race begins…cause-I-want-to-be-able-to kiss-your-ring-if-and-if-you-become- king/queen…

I am amazed at the circus. In an interview with CNN Donald Trump said, and I quote

“I don’t anything about David Duke… I know nothing about white supremacists… I don’t know anything about the group you are talking about…” 

In this day and age, how is it that someone who running as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States can be so blatant and state that he is ignorant about something about the social history, good and/or bad of America.

And I had to search and ask the following question. “Who was the worst presidential candidate of the United States of America?” I found at Rant Political, posted by Chris Gamble “Worst Presidential Nominees of All Time”. Interesting collection...and of course it is on the internet.

As I type my Trek this morning I am overtaken by the aroma of bread baking. This morning I am trying two new concoctions: #95 White Rye and #96 White Coconut. The two are No-Knead loaves. The White Rye seemed to leaven somewhat.

And now all are out of the oven.

#95 White Rye No-Knead Bread

#96 White Coconut No-Knead Bread

Quilting continues on our Elation…  Here are some back view images.

This is my 1,165th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,951 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 167 ½ – (AD 1,072 ½) – 0.0 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Day and Dreaming Off My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This day is a “No Schwinn Day”. Not a negative thought, just my 7th day and it is my day of rest.

Early morning, cold weather, grandson’s soccer practice. At 3 ¾ years old we have to be explained to and coached that a mesh yellow singlet is a part of the playing apparel. There are no numbers on the practice singlets.

Something I’m thinking about from last night when I went to bed. I wanted to go to sleep and I started tossing and turning. I’ve always made it a habit that if I do not fall off to sleep within 10 minutes, I’ll be damned if I’m going to toss and turn for a time when I really want to get to sleep. And so I usually get up and find something to do that will cause my mind to eventually decide to be too tired to stay awake thinking about things, causing me to toss and turn.

Well last night it happened. I tossed and turned then I got up, and knowing that physically I needed the sleep, I went to the medicine cabinet and got me a little white tablet to zonk me out. (These tablets do work and I only take them so infrequently that a 30-night prescription can last me in the event of up to 2+ years.) And so I plopped the tablet. I was out like a light within 5 minutes.

And I remember one dream. It was a dream about the same thoughts I was having that were causing me not to get to sleep in the first place. I did not know that this was possible, but then again I do not follow dream interpretations and/or meanings. I am just very curious if this is a common thing or where on the scale of abnormality does this register?

Found a very interesting article published July 2010 in Scientific American “How Can You Control Your Dream?”  I wasn’t trying to control my dreaming, just wondering, and learning, as always.

Gonna try to make a Punahou Portuguese Bean Soup for supper tonight. Cold weather in Tampa, Florida means soups and stews for supper. For the residents, that is. (Just a suggestion.)

Got to update our quilt and wall hanging projects in progress.  Will do so.  Follow our progress at Quilts SB.

This is my 1,164th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,842 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 167 – (AD 1,072) – 22.6 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Just Wondering On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled another 22.6 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 22,843.0 miles; 36,762.3 kilometers.

My pinpointed location is at Strada Statale 106 Jonica, 87067 Corigliano Calabro CS, Italy.

And yesterday I was privy to some new, to me, information about The Temple of Damanhur.



And guess in which country I am virtually trekking now? Guess what I am going to look for?

Our quilting is progressing on our new project Elation. As it grows I am amazed at how it is moving from the original scratched design to the reality in art and fabric.

And the new fabric for another new project, currently titled Basic Equality, arrived last night.

This is my 1,163rd post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,794 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 166 – (AD 1,071) – 23.2 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Winter #3 On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Tampa and Florida just experienced rains, tornadoes, and the temperature is dropping. Our mini-climate change, not in the vocabulary of our illustrious Governor, possible (heaven forbid short list contender for Trump’s running mate) heralds the entrance of winter #3…

And Bella just looks for a carpet to relax upon.

Today I pedaled 23.2 miles on my Schwinn 170. Yes this is a recorded statement. Yes this is the 5th of 6 days of Jim’s Trek. And my totals now are at: 22,820.4 miles; 36,725.9 kilometers.

Virtually, I am now located at Via Gaetano Natale, 52, 87062 Cariati CS, Italy.

According to my calculations I have 104 days remaining to pedal to my finish line. And to tell you the truth, I really do not have any idea exactly where that will be. Today is my 1,071st day pedaling on a Schwinn Fitness cycle.

So at lunch I scarfed down yesterday five plus plates from the buffet at Jai Ho Indian Cuisine (one of my favorite restaurants).  Then I drank down one Canada Dry Ginger Ale, followed by a Mexican Coca Cola. And then for supper a ¼ of a box of Saltine crackers and my homemade Solomon Gundy. It’s all in keeping my food consumption with an international flavor. What should I expect? Well hell’s bells, I shouldn’t be shocked that my blood sugar count this morning jumped 29 points.

This is my 1,162nd post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,712 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 165 – (AD 1,070) – 22.5 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Buyer Beware On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

And today another 22.5 miles on my Schwinn 170. I’m now recording totals at 22,797.2 miles; 36,688.6 kilometers.

I think I got it wrong yesterday. I thought I was at the heel of the boot. I most definitely, after all these days on my virtual Trek, got it wrong. I still have about 250 more miles to go before I get to the heel at Leuca.

I am currently located at Strada Statale 106 Jonica, 88816 Strongoli KR, Italy. So please disregard

It certainly is funny how the aged, if I may include myself in that category, are targeted.

Last week I received a visit from a "professional-looking" gentleman at my house.  His opening line was worded such that I understood that he was representing a firm which had as he implied that was associated with my business and that he was a Medicare Specialist who wanted to help me with my forth-coming transition to retirement.  Ours was a pleasant conversation and he was polite but at the same time wanted to set up a follow-up appointment to discuss my forth-coming retirement needs.

Here's the kicker.  I have been on long-term disability for some time due to the massive car accident I was involved in some years ago.  Even though I have not been able to return to work I am still included on the books as an employee of my firm...and my retirement date is soon around the corner.  I have had a number of telephone calls with my firm and various representatives concerning my retirement.  The front-door caller had me, without blinking an eye.

Without haste he set up the follow-up meeting, but something definitely did not sit right in my craw.  Oh yes his business card, which he handed to me at the end of our initial encounter, was printed with the logo of BankersLife.  His job title - Unit Field Trainer, Insurance Agent, and he wrote in Medicare Specialist.  My craw did a couple of turns.

Immediately I went online... It appears that I was a target, a patsy, an objective for his 100% commission insurance sales plan.  I contacted my firm.  Yes there is NO associated inter-relationship regarding my forth-coming retirement between BankersLife and my firm..

Yes I called and I cancelled the follow-up meeting.  Yes I sent an email as a follow-up to my cancellation of the follow-up.  Yes I made sure that I was away from home at the set time.

Buyer, this one, beware.

This is my 1,161st post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,660 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 164 – (AD 1,069) – 23.2 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Smoked Kippers On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I pedaled 23.2 miles on my Schwinn 170.

Yes you may be getting bored with this, but I really have a habit. I pedal 72 minutes 6 days a week. And I still have 8 ½ % of my ultimate goal left to go. Totals today – 22,774.7 miles; 36,652.4 kilometers.

And it looks like I made it to the heel of the boot on the virtual part of my Trek.

I am located at Strada Statale 106 Jonica, 88841 Isola di capo Rizzuto KR, Italy.

And based on a quick calculation it looks like I’ll be crossing my finish line about mid-June.

When I have an overabundance of Kipper Snacks in the pantry (I got a deal), what the hell am I supposed to make? (I'm the only one in the house that will eat the snacks.)

Ingredients – Kipper Snacks, red onion, tomato, habanero, olive oil, pepper. Result ( almost) – Trini Smoke Herring and/or Solomon Gundy… homemade.

Two loaves of No-Knead Bread made last night, #s 93 and 94 –

#93 Sourdough No-Knead Bread

#94 Turbo Hemp Seed No-Knead Bread

A question was posed to me recently “Why don’t I fit in?”

“What to do when you just don’t feel like you fit in?” Huffington Post article by Stephenie Zamora provides a decent quick answer “Whatever makes you different, that’s exactly who you’re here to be, no someone that ‘fits’ with everyone else."

This is my 1,160th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,578 Pageviews.


I know I like to take a dare and try different types of food.  Do I dare?

Bitty Foods Cricket Flour Chocolate Chip cookies...  ???

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 163 – (AD 1,068) – 22.5 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Wondering On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I cycled 22.5 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 22,751.5 miles; 36,615.1 kilometers.

This morning I am located at Strada Statale 106 Jonica, 25, 88100 Barone CZ, Italy per Google Maps. And I have completed 91.4% of my total goal.

Obviously I have become very interested in the shenanigans and the innuendoes of the current Presidential campaign. I definitely will be voting.

Peter Beinart at The Atlantic today states

“In a bizarre twist, Donald Trump has become an instrument of class vengeance. I don’t know how many of his voters really believe he can stop the “losing” that has characterized white working-class life for decades. But he has now accomplished at least one thing for his supporters. He’s given them the satisfaction of watching Jeb Bush lose, too.”

The reality is that the Bush name has lost and for this generation has been moved aside. The question is now, what will the Republicans really do? Take care, Jeb Bush did “suspend my[sic] campaign”. The definition of the word “suspend” is “temporarily prevent from continuing or being in force or effect.”

And Governor A. Schwarzenegger is known for his phrase “I’ll be back”…

I just read John Hudak’s article in Brookings -

“This will prove to be an interesting election as “Party leaders don't like Donald Trump and they're scared to death of his candidacy. The GOP brass see themselves—right or not—to be in a very strong position this year. Secretary Clinton's candidacy exists in the shadow of scandals and investigations and her primary competition is a self-described socialist. They think their chances to retake the White House are quite good, but only if they have the right candidate. They believe Donald Trump is not that candidate. The Republican primary contest has "uncommitted delegates" (Democrats call them "superdelegates") who are able to cast convention votes without input from voters. There are fewer of them than Democrats have, but in a close primary contest, they may make a difference. These unpledged delegates tend to be state party leaders.”

Who will be the Republican candidate? Will it be one of the current Rep Pack?

And work still progresses on the quilting of our new Elation.

Elation - JA AB - Quilting in progress

And sourdough loaf #93 is just waiting to proof for the 2nd time and then baked in the oven.

This is my 1,159th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,535 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 162 – (AD 1,067) – 23.7 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Yesterday I took the day off from pedaling. It was my every 7th day. And I did not write up a ½-day posting.

And this morning I cycled my Schwinn 170 23.7 miles. Totals now are – 22,729.0 miles; 36,578.8 kilometers.

Google Maps has me located at my virtual point at Via Nazionale, 247, 88060 Badolato CZ, Italy.  I now have 8.7% remaining of my total mileage goal.

Jeb Bush is out… Next generation? Whatever happens to Lindsay Graham’s support?

Baked up three loaves yesterday. #90, #91, and #92.

#90 No-Knead White with Flax Seeds

#91 No-Knead White

#92 No-Knead White 

#s 91 and 92 delivered.

We started the background quilting on our Elation. Definitely should prove interesting.

Elation - JS AB - Progress update

Follow our progress and work at Quilts SB - http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/.

I finally got back to some research on my family tree and ancestry.  I'm still looking for the origins of my 3-times great-grandfather James Smith.  Follow my work at A Genealogy Hunt.  (http://agenealogyhunt.com/)

This is my 1,159th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,463 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 161 – (AD 1,066) – 23.0 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Balmy Spring On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning again I pedaled my Schwinn 170, 23.0 miles. I have now passed the 22,700-mile mark by 5.3 miles. And I still have 8.8% of my total goal left to go. Any guesses where I’ll end?



What can I say about my location at Via Marina, 89047 Roccella Ionica RC, Italy?

Not much. I can just feel the virtual warmth of the Ionian Sea.

Tampa autumn season is upon us a wee bit early this year. Crepe Myrtle - February 18, 2016.

Full moon February 22nd. Out next winter? Tried a cup of Crio Bru Venezuela this morning.  Brewed cocoa without the over-abundance sweetness of hot chocolate…if you know what I mean. I think I am sold.

Our Elation update - Quilting of pantone, Phase 1, 99% completed. Elation's intended size - 160" perimeter.

Elation - Pantone quilted - JS AB

Follow our progress and work at Quilts SB - http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/.

This is my 1,157th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,280 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 160 – (AD 1,065) – 22.6 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – Where Next On My Schwinn 170?

Good Day,

Today I pedaled 22.6 miles on my Scwhinn 170. Totals: 22,682.3 miles; 36,503.7 kilometers.

This morning my location is at Via Cristoforo Colombo, 40-42, 89032 Bianco RC, Italy

Spent the day collecting 218 Lanarkshire, Scotland birth and christening records from the period 1760 through and including 1800.  I am working on a hint from a note left, and recently found, penned by a grandaunt.

This is my 1,156th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,210 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim

Day 159 – (AD 1,064) – 22.8 Miles – Jim's Trek Part IV – On My Way On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 22.8 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals now – 22,659.7 miles; 36,467.3 kilometers.

Google Maps has me pinpointed at Località Vena, 298, 89035 Bova Marina RC, at the extreme south of Italy. I am now 133 miles from my next destination and goal point.

Here are a series of maps of my current Trek, Part IV.

My current location - February 17, 2016

To date, as Part IV, I have pedaled my Schwinn 170 3,670.2 miles; 5,906.6 kilometers.

Overall I still have 9.0% of my overall Trek, Parts I + II + III + IV, to go.

Elation update - Definitely a different vantage view and perspective. We are amazed at how our quilting is actually transforming the crumbled-fabric look of our artwork.

Elation - JS AB - Progress

Follow our progress and work at Quilts SB - http://quiltsb.blogspot.com/.

This is my 1,155th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 86,140 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address.)

Be healthy and enjoy your day.

Jim