Day 223 - Jim’s Trek - 22.2 Miles - 4,200 Mile Mark Reached

Good Day,

And today I can almost see my final destinations. Only 37.3, give-or-take, miles remaining of my Tampa to Seattle Trek. To date I have accomplished on my Schwinn 150 4,220.0 miles.

Today I am headed south on Highway 203 and I am located at Taylor Park on Carnation Duvall Road NE. My direction south is my route to my next Interlake address goal.

And the fantastic news this morning is the CK is now walking. He’ll soon join his Grandpa on his "imaginary" trips to who knows where.  Just gotta wait until his feet reach the pedals.

All-things-being-equal I hope my PC is returned shortly so I can plan my new Jim’s Trek Part II - The Sequel. All I can reveal is that at this moment I may be heading in a southerly direction.

Last night’s supper was half-a-repeat. Grilled corn on the cob and a Zucchini, Olive, Tomato, and Jalepeño Fusilli dish. I like the cycling cause I can almost eat to my mind’s content, and my blood sugar counted at 100, and there weren't any leftovers.

 

All-things-being-equal I have only lost 6.2 pounds over the past 223 days. My intention of my Trek was not to lose weight but to lose waist. My belly measurement this morning stands at 34 inches and my waist measurement is 32 7/8”. I began my Trek on my Schwinn 150 with belly measurement of 44 inches.

Season Two, Part Six of Continuum was the viewing fare this morning on my Schwinn 150. The show has added some interesting sub-plots, but the question is, if and only if there is a renewed season will the writers and the producers be able to go any place. Last night I watched Part One of Season Two of The Newsroom. Interesting setup but I’ve got to watch it again to see and understand any of the tangents that I may have missed.

Be healthy and enjoy... Until tomorrow, the Sequel is just around the corner.

Jim

Day 217 – Jim’s Trek – 20.3 Miles – In Washington and Two New Projects

Good Day,

I finished 20.3 miles on my Schwinn 150 Trek this morning. To date my total miles completed equal 4,090.3. The number of miles is somewhat higher than my original goal, when I began on December 3, 2012. The 4,090.3 miles are the real miles pedaled on my Schwinn 150. My original Trek miles, per Google Maps are mapped directly from my Interlake address in Tampa, Florida to the similar address in Seattle, Washington is 3,093.

As of this 217th day of my Trek I have increased the physical number of cycled miles by 997.3. I only have 165.7 miles left to go to get to my final Interlake address goal in Seattle. This means that by adding the Interlake address goals to my overall Trek I will have added a total of 1,163 extra miles. And who said I wasn’t long long-winded, or take extra time to get to the point?

Today on my virtual Trek, after my additional 20.3 miles, I am located on US-2 W just east of the unincorporated community of Orondo, Washington. Accordingly, Orondo, on the shores of the Columbia River, has one gas station/store, a Subway restaurant, a Post Office, and a number of latte and fruit stands. But it does have a golf course.  Sorry, I do not play golf.

Last night’s supper – Smoked salmon, onion, Thai pickles, onion, tomatoes, and sour cream, and a Chocolate Sundae. No wonder my blood sugar count registered in this morning at a great 90 mg/dL or 5.0 mmol/L. My average since I stopped taking my diabetes medication 21 days ago - 103.1. Is there such a term as "un-diabetic"?

It is funny how the discussion of Google Glass is progressing. Not funny ha, ha, but funny intriguing especially in light of the physically embedded similarities existing in some of the actors from the future in the Syfy series Continuum.

The Laramie Project, part one is the documentary movie this morning on my Trek. I may be naïve, but I have never understood hating someone else...no matter what. And then there is Indiana. From CBN News US “Some attorneys predict that same-sex divorce may become legal in states like Indiana even if same sex marriage remains illegal.” Okay, is this lawyers’ and politicians’ double-speak? How can one undo something when that same thing was never acknowledged in the first place?

Began two projects today, sort of self-organization and development type projects. 750 Words and Chains.cc. I’m into Day 2 on both.


Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 216 – Jim’s Trek – 20.7 Miles – Still in the State of Washington

Good Day,

I completed my miles this morning on my Schwinn 150. Today I finished 20.7 miles. Obviously I'm still in Washington; I’m located on US-2 W at the intersection of Armstrong Road SW. I’m headed west and I believe I can see mountains in the distance.

Based on my calculations I still have about 186 more miles to go to reach my final Seattle destination.

One is never too young to learn something old. In 1976 I got my first wok. Thanks BR. I’m still using the same one, now for 37 years…but I never considered myself in any way a polished expert, just an ardent and progressive learner. I am currently reading a very good book published in 2004, The Breath of a Wok, by Grace Young and Alan Richardson…and I’m learning something new, Wok Hei.

I’m in a waiting room psyching myself to have blood withdrawn via 6-inch needles. Two observations in waiting room... One, parents or grandparents with children, in waiting rooms this day need to teach the child that posted symbols for No cellphones or Gameboys with sound means NO sound. Second observation, I wonder what are the purposes of luminescent lime tennis balls on walkers…and do they glow in the dark?

After sitting in this woebegone waiting room and as I close in on the final miles of my Trek, I vow that for the next six months I will not be a vocal proponent of discussing my ailments or physical limitations, unless there is an MD designation attached to the listener's moniker. Everyone in the waiting room had such sad and drawn faces.

Construction of the inner top of Tampa Kaleidoscope quilt is now complete. We are now addressing the design and creation of the framing and borders. A quilting pattern is in the works that we feel will best highlight but not supersede the impact of the hexagons. Blumish Two is now hanging on our quilt wall. We are trying to decide what best type of quilting will develop and highlight both the positive and negative spaces.

Sea Foam afghan is progressing well. About a third of the width of the inner portion of the afghan has been completed.

This morning’s in-cycle viewing please was Episode 5 of Season 2 of Continuum. It is starting to get interesting now. The mystery is who is who is who aligned with whom. All I can say the secret to my keeping up with my cycling on a daily basis has been me watching the TV serials and movies. I definitely make sure that there are NO interrupting commercials.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 215 – Jim’s Trek – 22.0 Miles – 207 Miles Left To My Seattle Destination

Good Day,

Yes, the house is now cleaned; sort-of…and I did complete my cycling this morning on my Schwinn 150. Today I managed to finish 22.0 miles.

I am located, still in Washington, on US-2 W but the road has another name: 12th Road NE. I am northeast of the Sun Lakes Dry Falls State Park and the Dry Falls Heritage Area. The road and the expanse are definitely flat. Wonder if we, that is, the United States will ever run out of the need for real living space?

And I am just asking whether Edward Snowden can hack the Spanish classes at Rosetta Stone? Just thinking out-loud… sort-of.



Very good news for Tampa, but I do have a question. Why are not the International Indian Film Academy’s Weekend & Awards held in India?


I have a lot of questions today. Must be the result of pushing a mop-broom.

Viewing pleasure this morning was the SyFy show Continuum. I’m intrigued but can’t say if it will last more than two more seasons.

Another question. Am I misguided when I think that the current and new shows being offered on the Learning, Discovery, and History channels appear to be “dumbing-down” in the level of presentations? Is there really a call for the exponential growth of reality shows depicting the life and times of hillbillies? Poor old Granny must be fixin’ a new pot of her “roomatiz medicine”. And here’s a question: What was Jed’s late wife’s name?



Even though I am still on a genealogy retreat from my search and research, I did post to my A Genealogy Hunt. Check it out - Part 857ja - Smith Robertson Genealogy - July and Abraham - Île de Gorée, Sénégal.



Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 214 – Jim’s Trek – 21.0 Miles – Just Call Me Mickey

Good Day,

Located today, after 21.0 miles on my Schwinn 150, in the State of Washington, on a road – US-2 W in the middle of farmed fields… I’m sort of expecting Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones to jump up and start with “There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow...” Oh yeah, wrong State. Just thinking.

Only 230 more miles until my final Seattle destination. I’m working on my next plan.

It has now been 18 days without any diabetes medications. My blood sugar count average is in at 102.5 mg/dL. And my blood pressure this morning records at 123/71.

But you can call me Mickey. An article from CBS This Morning caught my eye last night - New Study sheds light on exercise’s impact on brain.


Why does a vision of me running in a giant exercise wheel in a rodent cage keep playing in my mind?



My Trek viewing pleasure this morning was the first two parts of the second season of Continuum. It is sort of a sci-fi version of CSI and NCIS. There is definitely a correlation between my cycling at a greater speed when there is an uninterrupted chase scene happening on the show which I am watching. It made my 11th level of resistance go at a better pace.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 130 1/2 - Jim's Trek - Today I Rest - Yeah, Right!

Good Day,

Today is Day 130 1/2 on my Schwinn 150 Trek from Tampa to Seattle. Out of the blue, I decided that I would just take the day off from my cycling. I also decided that after the next 130 days I would take another day off.

It is time to examine my Trek and search for more Interlake address stops and goals for the remainder of my trip. There is also only 2 days left to the Tax filing deadline.

"B" marks my current location in North Dakota. I have completed 18 Interlake address goals. I have been able to find six more from this point before I actually reach my final destination in Seattle. I'm searching for a few more.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 130 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles and 603 Calories – North Dakota

Good Day,

This morning’s ride on my Schwinn 150 racked up another 20.8 miles. My total Trek mileage – 2,268.4. I am headed north on highway N Dakota 18. I have just crossed over 25 Street SE, and about halfway to 24th Street SE. Fields as far as I can see, to all my directions: north, south, east, west.

My waist measurement is keeping constant. After 130 days I wonder what will happen at Day 150.

Today is Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. Check out The Chive for their presentation of 40 unique grilled cheese sandwich recipes. And while I complete all my paperwork I might be munching on a good grilled cheese sandwich.

Supper last night – Irish Boiled Dinner but I substituted chicken for the beef brisket. Garlic, onions, carrots, red potatoes, turnip, green cabbage, beer, chicken broth, Bay leaves, peppercorns, olive oil, butter… Excellent and filling supper.

It appears that no keyhole in any doorway to the Royal bedchambers is sacrosanct. The Tudors present a number of interesting twists in the lives of Henry, Queen Catherine Howard, Lady Anne of Cleves, and Thomas Culpeper. Historically correct? Certainly would be thought-provoking to find out.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 129 – Jim’s Trek – 20.3 Miles – I’m in North Dakota

Good Day,

Today I burned 601 calories on my Schwinn 150 Trek and clocked in 20.3 miles. This morning I passed through Dilworth, Minnesota to Fargo, North Dakota. And I did so very quickly with my feet high on my pedals. I am on 36th SE Street between 165th Ave SE and 164th Ave SE in North Dakota.


My total mileage today equals now 2,247.6. I am approximately 75.0 miles from my next goal.

The Tudors – Henry’s leg injury is getting worse and Queen Catherine is acting as a spoiled brat and teenager. There does not seem to be any great underlined alliances in the work, excepting it appears that everyone is just looking out for her/him-self.

Still waiting on the red fabric for our Equality quilt. The blue and yellow blocks are well on the way.

Tonight's supper - Chicken, turnips, carrots, and greens.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 128 – Jim’s Trek – 21.5 Miles – Another Goal Achieved

Good Day,

Today I completed 21.5 miles and burned 602 calories. I am located on US-10 W/State Street NE just west of Glyndon, Minnesota. Right now it is 25°F in Glyndon and it is just 83°F in Tampa. This Trek on my Schwinn 150 makes sense to keep me where the warmth is.

I have now completed 2,227.3 miles on my Trek. Due to my daily ride on my Schwinn 150 Trek I have cut down my diabetes medication by half. This morning’s blood sugar count was at 97… Looks

like whatever is working by continuing on my Trek is certainly showing some positive signs.

And today I take is very easy and slow. All my Biorhythms, primary and secondary, are almost down at the furthest bottom of their cycles. Definitely will be a quiet time for the rest of this next week.

Today is National Library Day. And I love a good book, but when will we begin to celebration National Kindle Day? And I need me a good book.

Henry marries Catherine Howard in The Tudors… and Henry is beginning to slow down. There is a little animosity thrown in between Queen Catherine and her step-daughter Mary, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon. It is sort of reading the end of a book first when you know what is going to happen.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 127 – Jim’s Trek – 21.2 Miles – Change Your Name?

Good Day,

Well my 600 calories daily goal today just took me a little bit longer. On my Schwinn 150 I clocked 21.2 miles in about 1 hour and 11 minutes while burning the 600. I have to really change my mindset now that I have picked the 600 calories burned goal. Adding the 21.2 miles to my 127th day total means that I have crossed the 2,200 mile mark.

My destination today is on US-10 West between Private Road and 120 Avenue. The scenery on the road has not changed for a couple of days… blue skies, green pasture, and empty road. Nice and quiet.

Now I do not understand something. April 9th, today is National Name Yourself Day. And I did find that some people celebrate today as Chinese Almond Cookie Day. Why?

The Tudors – Introduce Catherine Howard. Marriage to Anne of Cleves annulled. Thomas Cromwell, off with his head. Damn the High Executioner should never have got that drunk the night before.

Test 40 has arrived at the Quilt Festival of New England in New Hampshire. Colored Windows II, Coral Steps, and MEM911 have begun their journey to the International Quilt Festival of Ireland. Metropolis is now in Salt Lake City in preparation for Home Machine Quilting Show. Cosmo’s Moon will soon be leaving for Salt Lake City and EssbeeCon will be on its way to Denver.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 126 – Jim’s Trek – 20.9 Miles – Don’t Text and Cycle

Good Day,

This morning as I was just about completing my Trek on my Schwinn 150 I took a phone call. I then looked down and I had burned 605 calories, 5 above my set goal. My mileage for the day 20.9 miles. Bottom line, don’t text or use the phone while driving or cycling.

My location is on Highway US 10 and I’m headed in a northwesterly direction. I am just north of Acorn Lake and a little bit west of Chilton Lake. I can see that there are a lot of lakes in this part of Minnesota.

I have now completed 66% of my original Trek from Tampa to Seattle. My total miles this morning – 2,184.6.

Why if today is Ponce de Leon day do so many elder folks migrate to Florida? I mean he didn’t find the Fountain of Youth. All he found was flowers some 500 years ago. But one would think that the elder residents of this state should know that if no-one has found the Fountain of Youth in 500 years, it still is going to stay lost. I suppose that is why Miami is Number 3 for the greatest number of plastic surgeons… after San Francisco and Beverly Hills.

Supper last night – Stir-fried shrimp and Napa cabbage with onions served with Korean Scallion pancakes. Good and different. Will repeat. But it’s time for Okonomiyaki, again.

The Tudors update - Henry does NOT like Anne of Cleves...but he marries her anyway. Everyone can't wait for Thomas Cromwell to lose his head, literally.

Cosmos' Moon is in the last stages. We have to go over it with a fine tooth comb and make sure that every thread is correctly placed. The first block of Equality has been completed... and I made a measurement mistake. We changed the design and from what we can see we like it better. Check out Quilts SB for updates.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 125 – Jim’s Trek – 21.0 Miles – Burning 600 Calories on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning I have sort of changed my daily goal… sort of. My Schwinn 150 Trek goal is now to complete 20.6 miles each day or burn 600 calories, whichever comes first. This morning I reached 600 calories at 21.0 miles. I have now completed 2,163.7 miles in 125 days.

This morning I am located on US-10 W and I’m on a bridge crossing over some railway tracks. I just crossed over Minnesota Street. Just down the ways a bit I passed through the City of New York Mills. This small city of about 1,200 is supposedly situated on the Continental Divide. I have another 156 miles to my next Interlake address goal.

And today is World Health Day, which celebrates the founding of WHO in 1948. The theme for 2013 is high blood pressure. My count this morning is 119/71. And my BMI today is 23.0 which, praise be, is now in the Normal weight category.

Today is Wash The Pack Day… All pandemonium broke loose, but they are all now calmed down taking in the glorious sun and a brilliant Sunday. The Tudors - Henry is searching for Queen Wife Number 4. The major factions in his court are waging matrimony to one a Roman Catholic or two a Protestant. Henry is insistent on eradicating the Pole Family.

Binding on Cosmos' Moon completed. Design specs have been detailed for Equality. Check out Quilts SB for updates.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 124 – Jim’s Trek – 20.6 Miles – I Am Still Trekking

Good Day,

20.6 more miles, total to date 2,142.7… 65% of my Schwinn 150 Trek. This morning I’m headed north on MN-29. I’ve just crossed over 240th Street.

Brought my blood sugar level down with Grouper with Coconut-Red Curry Sauce. Rice with rainbow chard. A one bowl dish that was really good. I really love experimenting with food.

Henry spends the majority of this episode of The Tudors confined in mourning. He then institutes six edicts for the Church of England. Certainly sounds as if he reintroduces the Roman Catholic dictums. What happens to the Reformation?

Today is one of the most absurd days mentioned – International Pillow Fight Day. Link here and find out all the cities world-wide. My question – Why? And I think I need a pillow on my cycle seat.

Fabric arrived for our new Equality quilt, three primary plus one colors. Quilting for Cosmos’ Moon completed. Binding has been attached.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 123 – Jim’s Trek – 20.6 Miles – 18th Goal But No Spork

Good Day,

This morning in the rain, of Tampa Bay, I cycled another 20.6 miles. I reached my 18th Interlake address goal, Eddy’s Interlachen Inn at County Road 42 NE in Alexandria, Minnesota. Eddy’s Interlachen Inn is 1,727.0 miles in a direct route from my house in Tampa. The Inn is situated right between Lake Carlos and Lake Le Homme Dieu. My Trek, including my 18 Interlake goals, now totals 2,116.4 miles.


On completion of my 20.6 miles this morning I am located just about southeast of Lake Miltona. I am on MN-29 headed north almost at County Road 5 NE. Scenery – grassy fields, woods, two-lane road, and sky. My grand total miles on my Schwinn 150 Trek this morning is now 2,122.1.

And last night I tried a Heater Meals, Homestyle Chicken & Noodles in Gravy. Interesting is the only thing I can say. I did start to laugh when one of the items included was a pouch of salt water. The product did do what it says it would do, and it was self-contained. And I suppose if there is a blackout and some sort of emergency I would definitely be thankful… but. Is it Homestyle? Definitely not the way I cook. But it did heat up in the container in the plastic pouch in the box… and there were packets of seasonings, salt and pepper. And the cutlery included is a plastic spoon… I was expecting a spork.

The Tudors - A son, Edward is born to Henry… Queen Jane passes immediately away. And the purge of the “supposed” rebels is taking place.

And I continue. Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 122 – Jim’s Trek – 20.6 Miles Today – 2,101.5 Miles Completed

Good Day,

And now is this the beginning of an early monsoon season in Tampa or the entrance of our 6th almost winter. One never knows what the hell our weather prognosticators are talking about. But all I know is that the Kabocha squash seeds I planted are welcoming the weather.


Finished my 20.6 miles this morning on my Schwinn 150. I’m located on MN-29 N immediately east of Lake Reno. Total miles today – 2,101.5.

Only 15 miles to my next Interlake address goal.

And now we can play cards with a little less worry about "marked" cards. Transparent cards and definitely nothing up my sleeve.

Henry’s word… not to be trusted. Very hard to see Colm Wilkinson’s head on a stake. The Tudors, under the influence of Thomas Cromwell have committed to genocide. Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth accepted at Christmastide. Queen Jane is now with child.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim