Day 120 – (AD 343) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.0 Miles – One More Day in New Mexico on My Schwinn 150

Good day,

This morning I cycled 22.0 miles on my Schwinn 150. My total miles now have reached 6,825.5. I am also one week shy of celebrating one whole year since I began my cycling regime and exercise. December 2nd is that anniversary. December 17, 2013 will be the date that I have actually cycled 365 days. All-things-being-equal, this means that I did not cycle a total of 15 days in the whole period. Not bad, if I say so myself…

Today on my virtual Trek I am still headed southeast on US-380 E. I am approximately 19.2 miles from the New Mexico and Texas States’ border. It also means that I am 1,515 miles to Tampa and from completing the goal that I set out for myself.

I am successfully continuing a task as suggested by Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and I am writing 750 words just about every morning. I have had three one day breaks but I have continued writing, actually typing my words using the application 750 Words. I began on July 8 of this year and I have been able to maintain an almost constant and successive goal.

And I just got back from my Dentist. Friday evening a chunk of one of my crowns experienced a “coup de tête”. Here I go again, temporary in place. Maybe I should try out the hippopotamus ivory dentures similar to our first President's. It is only a myth that he had wooden chompers.

This morning I watched the 2012 production Aliens Inside Us. This is not about the aliens that Tom Cruise and his wackiness tends to think and believe but the trillions of microorganisms and thousands of bacteria and fungi that are in and connected to us. A very interesting documentary on the Smithsonian Channel.

And then I immediately followed that with the first part of the 2012 production of Enemies Within: Joe McCarthy, also on the Smithsonian Channel. I will definitely finish the second part on tomorrow’s Trek. And one never knows what is lurking in some dark corner, somewhere.

The binding for our new RG2013 quilt is completed. We are now awaiting the information for its label. Tampa Kaleidoscope is being mounted to our long arm. And I am almost finished the new band to our Vanderbilt Afghan.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 119 – (AD 342) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.7 Miles – Another Goal Reached in New Mexico – 6,800 Miles on My Schwinn 150

Good day,

This morning I topped 6,800 miles on my Schwinn 150. I cycled 21.7 miles again, and I totaled 6,803.5.

I am headed southeast on US-380 E/2nd St toward County Road 159/Grose Rd. As I continue to virtually follow US-380 E, I will enter Texas in about two days. And that’s 420 miles to my 33rd Interlake address goal.

And Jim’s Trek is a two phase journey; the physical exercising part and the mental, virtual part. If you are a new reader of this somewhat simplistic blog, which I began on December 2, 2012, please know that I have not tried to pull anything over on anyone, least of all myself. I began my Trek with the intention of just doing some exercise. I did not know what the outcome or the benefits would be to this old-ish body. They certainly have happened. 11½ inch reduction, no more diabetes, lower blood pressure, and reduced cholesterol levels.And I did not know that the future would affect my present and definitely open the doors of my past.

Did I say that The Pack has grown to six? That is SIX leashes and 24 legs, for a complete week. One hundred and twenty pounds all the way down to 10. I feel like a master puppeteer. Three of the six, the largest and the two smallest, that is Moxon and Tinker and Max, believe that a walk is one that is accomplished in circles. So think of the discombobulation, Moxon, Harbor, Radar, Tinker, Bella, and Max, as I try to fathom who’s leash is who’s… as I deal with the canine celebration of me, the token May-pole.

It is cooler in Tampa MM, but there is no snow on the ground.

My viewing pleasure, I think this morning while on my Schwinn 150 was the 2011 Broadway production of The Pee-Wee Herman Show. I haven’t ever watched a Pee-Wee Herman show or movie. I guess I was just too, too uptight and was blind to that sort of comedic humor. I was amazed at the subtle writings…but I kept waiting for Pee Wee’s Schwinn X-1. I did learn that his bike was built off a late 40’s/early 50’s Schwinn DX frame. I felt forsaken, but I continued on my Trek on my Schwinn 150.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 118 – (AD 341) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 23.0 Miles – I’m Still in New Mexico on My Schwinn 150

Good day,

This morning I cycled 23.0 miles on my Schwinn 150. My total miles – 6,781.8. I decided to do at least one extra mile for missing my regime yesterday.

My location this morning is on Us-380 E/E 2nd Street west of Roswell, New Mexico. I still have another 443 miles to go to get to my next Interlake address goal.

I did not exercise yesterday on my Schwinn 150. Too many interruptions. Doctor’s appointment early in the morning, kitchen construction came to a completion, and I finally was able to clean the floor. I just did not cycle. I did not quit cycling. I wonder if that makes much sense?

Doctor is extremely pleased with my progress and management of my diabetes with exercise, the cycling and the diet. My A1c reported at 5.6% and my average FBS is 94.2 mg/dL.

I wonder if there are other diabetes’ candidates who have done this type of exercise regime. I wonder if there are any studies regarding diabetes, exercise and diet, of this type, and the fact that blood sugar counts are kept at near normal. It would be interesting to find out what sort of success factor exists.

My blood sugar count yesterday was up to 108. Conclusion, Chinese buffets no good for glucose; Asian recipes one of the best. Definite control of sugar and no MSG. Last night’s supper homemade spicy Italian sausage and eggplant plus casserole. Fasting blood sugar count this morning 101.

Today’s viewing company was the 2012 documentary Carol Channing Larger Than Life. Definitely kept me cycling without interruption.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 116 – (AD 339) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.7 Miles – Still in New Mexico on My Schwinn 150

Good day,

This morning I cycled 21.7 miles on my Schwinn 150 and I have now cycled a total of 6,736.8 miles. I did miss not exercising yesterday, and I will explain further on down. I sort of felt guilty not cycling and missing a day. Does this mean that this has now become routine and a habit?

And for my virtual Trek, I am still in New Mexico and I believe that I am just east of the City of Roswell. I believe the population is about 48,000. More on that tomorrow. This morning I am headed east on County Road E022/US-380 E/US-70 E. If I continue to follow US-380 E I will be entering Texas soon.

I did not cycle or write my morning pages yesterday because my Norton Anti-virus software, which runs every day, sort-of, crashed. This is one of the key security software that I use to insure that my PC is working and protected as best as possible. It is the one that has assisted me throughout the many years that I have been using one.

Well I spent about two hours trying to figure out why the software had crashed and then as it was way, way beyond my grey matter and small-capacity brain, I contacted the Norton support online. I spend about an hour chatting with Kabul, I guess somewhere in India. S/He was able to find the problem, fix it, and now my Norton Anti-Virus software is working again.

Last night when I scanned my PC the software ran for a couple of hours, while I was asleep. It was able to quarantine and stop four Cloud viruses from infiltrating my system. The world is becoming so much smaller and I thank Kabul and his/her assistance and knowledge.

I am not trying to get into a political discussion but I am perplexed and quite bewildered at the support and the voting population that actual elects some of these pronounced Tea Party members. There are a number of these elected “idiots” who are so diametrically shysters and two-faced.

Take recently election Republican Trey Radel. I mean at 37 years old one would think that he should have certain brain capacity about himself. Well, he was arrested on account of a law, that he as an elected official is supposed to uphold. And I do not hold with the argument that “he is just human”. I mean this no-brain “co-sponsored legislation to change the nation’s mandatory minimum drug sentencing laws and voted for a bill that called for states to drug test people who receive food stamps.” Because of him and of the others, can't touch Tom Ford from this part of the continent, should not the legislation be amended to include annual testing of all elected officials? I would go one further, and ask how are voters examining the candidates that they elect to office?

Okay, I’ll get off my soap box.

My viewing companion while I cycled this morning was the 2012 movie Frances Ha. Definitely a good but somewhat strange movie. It is a black and white film about one Frances Halladay, who is a sort-of dancer who sort-of lives from place to place, who has some dreams.  I'm not sure of what those dreams really are. I was intrigued.

Andy and I received the news that our quilt and wall hanging Cosmo’s Moon has been accepted to be exhibited at MANifestations at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, Colorado. Check out Quilts SB for details. Our new commissioned quilt RG2013 is now off the long arm. The final touches and the quilting work on our domestic machine is now being done.

Work continued on our new afghan Vanderbilt. This one is a work in process and a step-by-step design in the make. I will be writing up some new details in Afghans SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 115 – (AD 338) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.0 Miles – Somewhere in New Mexico on My Schwinn 150.

Good day,

This morning I cycled another 22.0 miles on my Schwinn 150. I burned 688 calories. I had to. Last night I had one too many corn chips and salsa, two burritos con carne, a Sangrita, and a deep-fried ice-cream. Fasting blood sugar count was up, as expected, to 107 mg/dL. Got to bring it back down, today.

This morning I am still in New Mexico on County Road E022/US-380 E/US-70 E. I am about halfway between Hondo, population about 1,100 and Picacho, population 6, or is it 381. And then I found 82, and also 28. Who really does count these people? Anyone know?

Okay I ready Thomas B. Costain 1955 novel, The Tontine. Thank you PT. This was the second time I read it and each time I was completely intrigued with the characters and Costain’s writing. The story is of “A London con man creates a tontine wherein the surving members receive interest on their investment, while the capital, after some years, is to go to the care of…” final living.

The concept is good, I think. Well I just read Jason McClellan’s November 18th’s article “Scientist proposes bond that will pay out when aliens are discovered.” The lottery is a bond which would, all-things-being-equal, help to collect monies to further the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Sort of sounds familiar… I think.

Finished Scatter My Ashes at Berdsorf’s. My next viewing companion this morning is, in two-parts, Chely Wright’s 2011 documentary film Wish Me Away. Can she sing? And is she a gorgeous lady?

Back to work on our next quilts, afghans, and search for my genealogy. And then there is the Shape Shifter.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 114 – (AD 337) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.0 Miles – Another ½” in New Mexico on My Schwinn 150.

Good day,

Another 22.0 miles cycled this morning on my Schwinn 150. And if I hold my stomach in, it has happened; my waist is down an additional ½”. I have now gone from 44 inches to, let the drum roll, to 32 ½ inches. Damn, the last time I saw my waist that size was 32 years ago… This is the first measurement of 32 ½”…and that is a good Damn.

This cycling thing is working for me. I have lost only 6.2 pounds since I started on December 2, 2012.  Not a big deal, but, BUT I have lost 11.5 inches on my waist. And I am cycling, on a stationary bike in a real world, an average of 19.8 miles a day. In the last month, that average has been 21.7.

Doctors’ appointments next week will bring in the new results, and then I will ask myself the where do I go from here question. Obviously I will be still cycling another 1,647 more miles to return back to my home in Tampa, Florida, but I am thinking about what about after Tampa.

Virtually, on my Trek I am located and headed southeast on US-380 E toward County Road C002/Fs 57. I am now 531 miles from my next Interlake address goal destination.

I was recently asked “How have you kept up with your cycling and how have you realized your goals?” My response is that I did not set any actual or physical goals; I set some virtual goals. Jim’s Trek is the goal and the route that has allowed me to realize the real, physical and medical accomplishments. What has happened? The waist size reduction; the dismissal of diabetes; the elimination and reduction of medications for diabetes, heart, and blood pressure have all been a subordinate, but tremendous, achievements of my daily cycling on my Schwinn 150.

My viewing companion this morning is Matthew Miele’s 2013 documentary Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. I will be watching it on my Schwinn 150 in two parts. As stated at Rotten Tomatoes, “…a fun documentary which ultimately doubles as an infomercial for the Manhattan store.” But in the secret of my cycling, it kept my mind absorbed.

Last night as I was working on our new crocheted afghan, Vanderbilt, I thought that I had inserted a mistake. And so I pulled out half of the work that I had finished on the 5th band. I then discovered that I hadn’t made a mistake. Now double the time to re-create. Quilting on our RG2013 quilt is almost complete. We are learning to allow the freeform use of our long arm assist in the creation of a complimentary quilting design and pattern.  Check Afghans SB and Quilts SB for updates shortly.

Now back to my transcription work and my search for my ggg-grandfather James Smith.  Check out A Genealogy Hunt.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 113 – (AD 336) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.7 Miles – Just About Center of New Mexico on My Schwinn 150.

Good day,

This morning I cycled 21.7 miles on my Schwinn 150. I have about 1,670 miles more to complete my journey and my Trek.

Accordingly I only have 84 more days on my stationary cycle. All-things-being-equal I should be completing my complete journey on about 8 February 2014. Damn I will have been cycling for just 14 months.

Now that’s the physical part, and the virtual part – I am on US-380 and heading in a south easterly direction. This morning I crossed over the Valley of Fires, the Carrizozo Malpais. I learned something today. And then I traveled through the Town of Carrizozo, population about 1,000.

Just a quiet day today.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 112 – (AD 335) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.7 Miles – New Mexico on My Schwinn 150.

Good day,

This morning, yes, my Schwinn 150, and yes, 21.7 miles. My total on this 335th day of my Trek – 6,649.4 miles.

And on my virtual trip, I am somewhere, still in New Mexico, on Highway US-380 E. All-things-being-equal I am about 19 miles from the next Town.

Wasn’t on my list of things to do, but today is Clean Your Refrigerator Day. Just remember your refrigerator just wants to be your friend.

I watched the last part of Bleak House on Netflix. I would suppose that Smallweed does have his shtick. For a while I wanted to say “Beam me up”, instead of his consistent “Shake me up”. I will be looking for my next cycling - viewing companion.

Not much more to talk about.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 107 – (AD 330) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 20.7 Miles – New Mexico Still, On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

I’m a bit late writing up my Trek journal and blog today. I cycled 20.7 miles this morning on my Schwinn 150. I have now cycled, in 330 days, 6,541.2 miles. My return Trek or my Part II now equals 35% of my total miles, 2,284.1 miles. All-things-being-equal I only have about 1,800 more miles to complete my complete cycling Trek, in this part of North America.

Virtually I am still in New Mexico on US-60 E and about 24 miles from Magdalena. The Google Maps satellite image certainly has this area as light brown, and seemingly dry.

Spent some quality time with CK. The kid now recognizes Grandpa's big toe.

Part 3 of Bleak House is still something that keeps my mental and visual minds focused on the story. And the actors are most definitely telling stories with their faces. This is certainly a help to my keeping up with my exercise on my Schwinn 150.

This is a short writing day.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 106 – (AD 329) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.0 Miles – New Mexico Somewhere, On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today my cycling clocked 21.0 miles on my Schwinn 150. My next Interlake location goal is about 700 miles away.

I am on US-60 E somewhere in New Mexico between the Madre and Crosby Mountains. I am a bit north east of Datil, population about 55.

Not sure I understand this, but it seems that Firefox is recommending Add-ons to me that are Russian and Italian...in Russian and in Italian. Why? Accordingly the recommendations are based on the current ones that are included in my extensions. I only have three Add-ons currently added on; Google Image Search; iCloud Bookmarks; and Lightbeam. So what do these three have to do with the Russian and Italian recommendations? Strange thought…

This morning I watched Part 2 of Bleak House. It is Dickens’ dark examination of the shortfalls of the English Chancery court system in about the 1820s. How apropos that there is examination of legal documents and affidavits? Not in any way that I am an accomplished writer in the caliber of Charles Dickens but there does hold some persistence in the search and research of certain writings and scripts. I definitely might learn something.

I wonder if there may have been some slight association between Charles Dickens and Jules Verne. One of the minor characters in Bleak House known as Nemo is found dead, and there is an occasional reference to the fact that “Nemo” is the Latin for “nobody, no one”. Is that the meaning of Jules Verne's Captain Nemo in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea?

Decided on the new band for our Vanderbilt afghan. I think this one will work. Design work continues on CK’s GPS quilt. This new one should prove interesting and somewhat different. We started a new quilt design, The Doors. Both RG2013 and Tampa Kaleidoscope are in process of being quilted. Guess I’ll have to update our quilt and afghan schedule. Stay tuned to both Afghans SB and Quilts SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 105 – (AD 328) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.5 Miles – Catron County Heliport On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today I cycled another 22.5 miles on my Schwinn 150. I’m ½ mile short of my 6,500 mark; 6,499.5 miles. And there is tomorrow.

This morning on my Trek I reached the fairly new Catron County Heliport. Google Maps' street views were taken in 2008 and the Heliport was opened in 2009. Sort of not much to see. And there is something that I do not understand. Accordingly the Catron County Heliport, C54, is 8 nautical miles east of Quemado, New Mexico. I did pass through Quemado, population about 250, but I am still looking for some body of water to measure the nautical miles. (The B-marker in the above image is me.)

I just realized that we as a human race are creating a thousand of new dialects under the umbrella of “Computer-eze”. Just trying to understand the what-application-works-with-what-device-and-if-you-do-not-have-this-make-or-type-of-device-you-can’t-use-this-application certainly boggles the wee bit of grey matter that I am trying to hold on to. Is it that I am getting old? Or just left out in the cold? It is raining nanobytes, and I do not mean the candy type.

The  kitchen and flood reconstruction is almost done. Some minor things to finish. We’re still heading for a completion date of Thanksgiving. The air-conditioning is back online... and of course our service company was insistent that there was another new gizmo that was needed for the unit.  No thanks.

My desktop PC is back to work and I am ready to start my writing and research once again.

This morning’s viewing companion was Masterpiece Theatre’s 2005 presentation of Charles Dickens Bleak House. Part 1 begins the introductions of characters, place, and time. As I never read this in school in all the English Literature classes I sat through, this one should prove somewhat interesting. There are 15 parts and this video companion will take me through much of November and about 300 miles of cycling.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 104 – (AD 327) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.7 Miles – On My Schwinn 150 in New Mexico

Good Day,

This morning, I am so glad for the non-humid weather. I cycled 21.7 miles this morning on my Schwinn 150. I think I have to get serious about this hour of exercise... at some point in time. As I hit 6,477.0 miles today I am thinking about the 6,500rd and the 7,000th miles.

I am in New Mexico now and I am heading east on US-60 E toward Rd 80A. I now have about 750 miles to cycle to get to my 33rd Interlake address goal point.

The following Jim's Trek chart shows my progress based on my first 32 Interlake address goals. As you can see I am recording my progress.

Nothing is worse than when there seems to be an end in the road of a major fix-up and re-construction project than hearing a clicking sound. Yes, a tick,tick,tick,tick. A little gizmo on the air-conditioning unit was blinking red and making a clicking noise. That's the house unit... and the outside air handler was doing the same thing. It was like listening to an explosion of cash going up in flames. Well they are coming to take me away, ah-hah, they're coming to take me away. What bloody next?

Finished the second part of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial this morning. Watching a movie or a video series, without commercials has certainly been my secret to keep on going with my cycling Trek. And now I must find my next viewing companion for tomorrow.

Our work on our new RG2013 quilt is progressing well.  The quilting on our longarm has begun.  Three bands for our Vanderbilt afghan have been completed.  Work has begun on the 4th band.  Our Vanderbilt is a design-as-we-go project.  Should prove interesting final result.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 102 - (AD 325) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.0 Miles – Couple More Days In Arizona On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning amidst the reconstruction and workers I decided that I would complete my 21.0 miles on my Schwinn 150.

My current stats are: -

• Location – Near Springerville, Arizona
• Sequel Distance – Today 22.0; Total 2,176.1 miles
• Grand Total Miles – 6,433.2
• Miles to Go – 1,907.0
• Calories Burned - 651
• Weight – 161.8 lbs; Total Loss – 9.0 lbs
• BMI – 22.6
• Belly Measurement - 33"; Total Loss - 11"
• Blood Sugar - 96 mg/dL
• A1c - 5.11%
• Blood Pressure – 120/78

Today I am headed east on US-60 E toward County Road 4365, and tomorrow I’ll be in New Mexico.

My video companion this morning on my Trek was the second part of The Caine Mutiny. And I have a question. “Why was José Ferrer’s, who played the defense attorney Lieutenant Barney Greenwald, hand bandaged?” And I checked out some ideas on the Internet. Guess there are some others that may ask the same type of questions.

Another orchid blooms...

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 101 - (AD 324) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.8 Miles - 6,400 Mark Reached On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today the circus began bright and early. The six-foot-six wallpaper dude, in a 10-gallon hat sauntered up to our front door. "Is this the Smieeeth residence? I'm heah to do y'all 's wall-pay-puh...eeeng". Yup, this is it.

And all the wall connections are pulled. I lose my Internet wi-fi for some time. (And they are back up again.)

But, and but, I did get on my Schwinn 150 this morning. I cycled another 21.8 miles and I burned an additional 680 calories. I'm still maintaining my weight so I guess I can't be used for one of those "sure fast lose all the weight in just three-months when you use the machine three-times a week for just 30-minutes..."

This morning I am located, on my virtual trip, on the US-60 E Highway, just listening to Andrea Razzauti's 2013 Front Street. I have just passed Winchester Boulevard.

In about two days times I should be next crossing the Arizona/New Mexico States' border. Today I have now clocked 6,412.2 miles on my Schwinn 150.

And the orchids at the house are beginning to bloom.

This morning, for my viewing companion while on my Schwinn 150, I decided to watch The Caine Mutiny. It is a wonder that I have never seen this 1954 movie based on Herman Wouk's 1951 novel. Well I guess I was only three years old when the movie was released. I'm not sure if any new installation of television service to Puerto Rico occurred in that year would have carried the "made-for-television" version. Well Part I today, and tomorrow, Part II. And I'm still learning things.

The top to our new RG2013 quilt has been completed. Damn it looks class, traditional but contemporary. We have finished the design of our quilting pattern.  Design work has begun on our new CK's GPS quilt... and I'm working on a new quilt art design of coconuts and frogs. Just a thought, but somewhat compelling and interesting.  Once everything with the construction is finished and done I will updating Afghans SB and Quilts SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim