Day 323 – (AD 1,485) – 22.0 Miles –Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

And on the last day of 2017, (bloody hell I survived), I pedaled my Schwinn 170 another 22.0 miles. My totals now stand, after 1,485 days of pedaling, at 31,634.9 miles; 50,911.5 kilometers. I have now 6,566.7 miles remaining to complete my overall goal of the equivalent circumference of the Earth and of Mars.

I have now completed 53.5% of the distance to my next destination and goal point.

Jim’s Gotta Eat –

New Year’s Eve supper is my attempt at Sous-Vide Pork Loin, Hoppin’ John and Rice, and Cornbread.

Question -

Who won?

Hackers blaming hackers for my transfer delay of US$17,500,000.00.

Just received a Happy New Year cheery email that leaves me in a lurch. It appears that hackers caused an issue in delaying the transferring of my US$ 17,500,000 to my Woodforest National Bank account.

Yes, I checked. The closet location of a Woodforest National Bank is in Jacksonville at a Walmart Supercenter.

So, hackers foiled the hackers who in turn caused a "legitimate" loss of my $17 1/2 million.

And... who won?

Here’s the copy of the email I received this morning.

I apologize for the delay in transferring your US$17.500,000.00 it was due to the fact that our database was attacked by hackers, who tried hacking into our system, which resulted in the shutting down of our entire system. Our team of professional have worked tirelessly to restore our system, but the problem we have now is that most of our data were lost in the process.

So can you please furnish us with your details again, so as to facilitate the transfer of your fund immediately to your designated bank account. The details are as follows:

Name and address of bank:Account name:Account no.:Swift code:

As soon as we receive these details, we will proceed with the fund transfer process. Once again i apologize for the delay, i promise we will strive to make it up to you.

Yours sincerely,Robert E. Marling Jr.Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,Chief Executive Officer of Woodforest National BankAnd Director of Woodforest National BankWebsite: http:// www. chipsystems. in// dvd_sys/cctv/page/file.html

Reading –

I would like to meet the Zookeepers.

“MIT Astronomer’s ‘Zoo Theory’ Explains Why Aliens Have Not Made Contact With Earth” , Inquisitr.com, Lorenzo Tanos, Dec. 31, 2017.

“Even with the Zoo Theory in place, as well as the continued lack of evidence to support the belief that other planets can support alien life, whether intelligent or non-intelligent, some researchers are still confident in the possibility of confirming extraterrestrial life in the foreseeable future.”

Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018.

Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.

Cranes Update -

Our New Cranes Quilt –

3 pairs of 3-inch Crane blocks completed. Each block is constructed of 17 pieces, cut with our #AccuQuilt 3" Crane die.

More to come.






This is my 1,579th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,850 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 322 – (AD 1,484) – 22.0 Miles –Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Looks like my cold has dissipated so this morning I got on my Schwinn 170 and pedaled 22.0 miles. Totals are now recorded at 31,612.9 miles; 50,876.1 kilometers.

And I have completed 50.82% of the 820 miles to my next destination and goal point.

Jim’s Gotta Eat –

Last night I attempted a Ham and Cheese Dutch Baby. Doubled the recipe and used Parmesan and Moliterno Bianco Sardo Cheese.

There was none left… and I will do this one again.

Just put a new loaf of Sesame Bread in the oven. It is amazing how the aroma of baking bread warms up the house.

Just now out of the oven. The aroma of freshly baked Sesame Bread most definitely takes the chill of the Tampa winter.

Reading –

“Try exercise to improve memory and thinking”, PsyPost.org, Mayo Clinic, Dec. 29, 2017.

“Dr. Petersen encourages people to do aerobic exercise: Walk briskly, jog, whatever you like to do, for 150 minutes a week — 30 minutes, five times or 50 minutes, three times. The level of exertion should be enough to work up a bit of a sweat but doesn’t need to be so rigorous that you can’t hold a conversation.”

“Kale is great but not necessarily king – kale vs spinach vs rocket vs iceberg”, published Linkedin Pulse, Lisa Middleton, Apr. 13, 2015.

“If we then look back to compare kale with spinach and rocket and lettuce, for most nutrients there are only small differences. When you compare the differences to the huge gap to the iceberg lettuce, then you realize that kale, spinach and rocket are jostling for first line position, with iceberg a distant last, rather than being spaced out well across the field.”

Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018.

Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.

Cranes Pentagon Update -

Quilting completed. Binding and blocking completed. Sleeve and Label to go.

Answers to questions -

Cranes Pentagon -

Final size - 46 1/2" square.
Crane block size - 6" square
No. of pieces in each Crane block - 8 + 9 = 17
Crane fabric - Kimberly Einmo's newest fabric "Solid-ish"
No. of Cranes - 25 (Kimberly's "Solid-ish" is 30 colors.)
Color of background fabric - Off-White.
Designed by - Jim Smith and Andy Brunhammer

How many Crane quilts have you completed? - This is our 3rd Crane test quilt.

What size blocks have you created? - We created four (4) Crane sizes, 3"; 4"; 5"; and 6". We designed the #AccuQuilt fabric die.

Is your Crane pattern available? - We used the basic Japanese Origami Paper stencil, which is available at many links online, to create our design(s). We designed our first 3 quilt patterns - Rainbow Cranes; Not A Partridge; and Cranes Pentagon.

New Crane blocks have begun. Here are the pieces for our 1st 3-inch block.

The fabric for the Crane is a Jody Bergsma for Robert Kaufman North America Screen Print. There are 15 colors included in the fabric. The background will be white.

This is going to be a beautiful composition and something very, very different.

This is my 1,578th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,796 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 321 – (AD 1,483) – 21.9 Miles –Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 21.9 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals to date - 31,590.9 miles; 50,840.7 kilometers.

I have no completed 48.14% of the distance to my next destination point. And I can say that I have effectively completed just over 50% of my Martian trek and journey. With 6,610.7 more miles to go, I should be able to complete my overall 38,201.6 miles’ goal in about 330 ½ more pedaling days.

Jim’s Gotta Eat –

I’m sort of struggling with a massive cold. So, while I was on my Schwinn I decided to create a Congee.

Ingredients – Jasmine and Sweet Rice; Napa Cabbage; Ginger; Soy Sauce; Fish Sauce; Chicken Broth; Salt and White Pepper. I threw in some Shrimp.

Found the article on The Denver Post by Bill St. John dated Dec 27, 2017.

“Spicy and hot, congee clears the sinuses and warms the soul.”

For supper tonight I’m going to try a brand new recipe with a brand new ingredient “ ‘Nduja”. From Diana Henry’s cookbook “Simple” – “Eggs with Bell Peppers & ‘Nduja”

Ingredients – Olive Oil, Onion, Red Bell Peppers, Salt and Pepper; Potatoes; ‘Nduja; and Eggs.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.



Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018. Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.

Cranes update – Work continues at a breakneck pace to finish echoing the Cranes in our latest Cranes quilt.

This is my 1,577th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,629 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Days 319 & 320 – (AD 1,482) – 42.9 Miles –Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

On Christmas Eve morning I cycled on my Schwinn 170 21.7 miles. Today, Boxing Day I cycled another 21.2 miles. Totals 31,569.0 miles; 50,805.5 kilometers. That’s the real part of my cardio-exercise.

The mental part is that I have now completed 45.46% of the distance to my next destination and goal point.

Jim’s Gotta Eat –

Couple of nights ago I tried a complete Vegan meal – Yellow Bean Curry Soup and Baked Tomato and Courgette Casserole.

Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018.

Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.

Cranes update - Final stages of quilting is an echo-quilt around each of the 25 Cranes in our Pentagon of Cranes. (And yes, the good thing about designing a pattern ourselves is that we have the freedom to change our minds.)

Answer to question - Why Quilts SB? Quilts, the obvious part. SB, Smith Brunhammer. Better than Quilts BS.

This is my 1,576th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,558 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 318 – (AD 1,480) – 21.0 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled my Schwinn 170 21.0 miles. (I’m still pedaling for 1 hour 5 times a week.) My totals are at 31,526.1 miles; 50,736.4 kilometers.

And I have completed 40.23% of the distance to my next destination and goal point.

That’s the recorded part.

My weakness – Rowntrees Fruit Gums. Ever since I can remember I have always savored, always optimized Rowntrees Fruit Gums above all and any other food group.

I do you think that I can just have one? Or just two Fruit Gums? Hell no! I must scarf down a complete roll at one sitting. Bloody hell are they ever so good. Good for the taste, good for my sense of being.

And of course, they are terrible, a whole roll in one sitting, for someone with Diabetes. I definitely recorded the additional 14-point spike to 134 mg/dL. Not too much of an upward hit but enough to offset the positive effect of last night’s supper.

But I do love Rowntrees Fruit Gums.

Soapdish –

Listening to the news this morning I was taken aback by a phrase used by an interviewee as he spoke regarding the recently passed Tax Bill. His statement was that “the Tax Bill is an American metaphor”.

I had to look up a definition of the word “metaphor”. (Yes, I do have a degree in English Education.) The definition, per Google Dictionary “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it in literally applicable; a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.”

This could generally sum up the current political situation here in these United States of America.

Question –

Why is it that some persons, especially the types with wigs askew, believe that there is some sort of entitlement to walking freely and haphazardly in a shopping-center parking lot?

Is this a Florida thing?


Reading –

“The Strangest Science Findings of 2017”, LiveScience.com, by Laura Geggel, Dec 22, 2017.

“An amputated flatworm fragment sent to space regenerated into a double-headed worm, a rare spontaneous occurrence of double-headedness.”

And I know I could continue. But I will leave this one to your imagination.

Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018.

Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.

This is my 1,575th post, (corrected number). Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,460 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 317 – (AD 1,479) – 21.6 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I cycled 21.6 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals are now 31,505.1 miles; 50,702.6 kilometers.

And I have completed 37.67% of the 820 miles to my next destination and goal point.

On this day the 1,479th day of my pedaling I’ve just read a very “interesting” article by LiveScience.com. “8 Times Flat-Earthers Tried to Challenge Science (and Failed) in 2017”, Stephanie Pappas, Dec 20, 2017. I suppose these days, as persons of note, thoroughly get their kicks at using the phrase “False News” it is a wonder that there are certain segments of our society that may be just somewhat “tilted”. 

"But flat-Earthers tend to have complicated, often contradictory, explanations of how astronomy works in the absence of a round Earth. The Flat Earth Society pushes a view in which the sun rotates over the top of the disk of the Earth like a baby's mobile at a much closer distance than the 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) away that it actually is. The other planets — which, in this theory, are also much smaller and closer than they are in reality — orbit the sun, the Flat Earth Society believes."

I’ve always wondered at the education level or lack there-of persons who subscribe to these far-out theologies.

From another article by LiveScience.com by Natalie Wolchover and Staff May 30, 2017 -

“ The leading flat-earther theory holds that Earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the center and Antarctica, a 150-foot-tall wall of ice, around the rim. NASA employees, they say, guard this ice wall to prevent people from climbing over and falling off the disc.”

Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018.

Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.

Our Cranes update - We have now created 2 more sizes of our Cranes blocks. We now have, when sewn, a 3", 4", 5" and 6" Crane pattern. All have die-cutters created with AccuQuilt. Here is a 3-inch with a shiny Lincoln. Also, a comparison between the 3-inch and the 6-inch.

This is my 1,563rd post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,377 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 316 – (AD 1,478) – 21.1 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Up early this morning and I pedaled my Schwinn 170 21.1 miles. Totals now add up at 31,483.5 miles; 50,667.9 kilometers.

And I have completed 35.04% of the distance to my next destination and goal point.

Grandpa called to babysit.

Supper last night was out this world. Lemon Shrimp Risotto with Fresh Rosemary.

Did I mention that I love to cook? And did I say that I love to eat?

Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018.

Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.

We’re trying something new. I’ve just created a 3-inch and a 4-inch Crane AccuQuilt dies to accompany our 5-inch and 6-inch ones.

This is my 1,562nd post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,326 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 315 – (AD 1,477) – 21.3 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I pedaled 21.3 miles on my Schwinn 170. My totals now stand at 31,462.4 miles; 50,633.9 kilometers.

I inadvertently deleted the column of my percentage calculations of the distance between my two points of destination. Not a big deal. But here is where something is screwy. I rechecked with Wolfram Alpha as to the distance between Libya Montes and Amenthes Rupes. Wolfram Alpha is now stating that that distance is 820 miles. Somehow, I was using 790 miles in my calculations. Obviously, I have recalculated the percentage distance that I have now completed.

As of today, my 315th day on Mars, I have completed 32.46% of the distance to my next goal and destination. What difference 30 miles in the Martian air can make.

I tried a new bread recipe this morning - Ka3ek bel semsem (Sesame Bread).

I took a couple of liberties with my recipes and cooking the bread. I, obviously, did not shape the bread into 4 rings. Instead I did it as a whole loaf. I also baked it in the same manner as I bake my Artesian Bread – in a Dutch oven; covered for 30 minutes and uncovered for 15 minutes. I set the temperature of my oven at 450˚F for the first 30 minutes then turned it down to 400˚F for the remaining 15 minutes.

This bread is delicious!

Soapbox –

Question – If John McCain is not present for the Senate vote, what does that mean for the vote tally regarding the Tax Bill?

Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018.

Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.

Working continues on the design of our quilting on our latest Crane Quilt.

This one has been a challenge as this is the first time that we have created a quilt with the shape of a pentagon.

This is my 1,561st post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,266 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Day 314 – (AD 1,476) – 21.8 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Mars on My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled my Schwinn 170 21.8 miles. Totals are now 31,441.1 miles; 50,599.6 kilometers.

I have completed 31.0% of the distance to my next destination and goal point. Total miles completed for Jim’s Trek Part V now stand at 6,539.5 miles.

The Holiday Season is not a good time to effectively manage one’s blood sugar glucose levels. The spikes upward and the compensating downs are enough for me to go mad, especially when I love to cook, and I love to eat.

And this morning is the end of the 2017 Fall Soccer season. Grandson #1’s done for some time. And they each got their participation trophy and a cupcake with the most insidious blue frosting. Yeah for little children with blue lips and tongues and no serviettes.


Soapbox –

According to 538's combined algorithm.

Just exactly how low can #45 go?

On Day 330 in Office 36.5%, we have sunk to a new depth.

Wonder if the moving average will ever reach 30.0%?

Quilting –

Check out "OUR SHOW 2017", featuring 8 Fabric Artists and 50+ works of art at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater Octagon Arts Center, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Dec. 8, 2017 - Jan. 10, 2018.

Times: Tues - Fri - 9 am - 12 Noon; Sun - 10 - 10:30 am & 12 Noon - 1 pm.


Our 2 quilts, Not a Partridge and Rainbow Cranes were not juried and accepted to be shown at QuiltCon 2018. Not an issue, there is always another venue that may welcome them. Currently the two of them are on display at OUR SHOW 2017 in Clearwater.

Next time I we will design and create a quilt fit for the “essence” and “qualifications” of the said show and/or competition.

This is my 1,560th post. Per Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 186,137 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 - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim