Day 188 – (AD 415) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.2 Miles – My Way Home on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning I cycled another 22.2 miles on my Schwinn 150. I am now 9.5 miles shy of 8,300 miles, 8,290.5. I am still amazed as the miles have added up…and my Schwinn 150 just keeps humming along. No problems, just doing my cycling.

Today I am located on Moss Hill Road, and yes I am still in Florida. I am just about between Horselot Pond and Bear Hammock Lakes. I am headed south towards Spanish Lakes Drive. I now have about 313 more miles left to get to my 39th Interlake address goal point.

I am sure that their school teachers may be cringing at the possible thought that these walking dullards – Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, Michelle Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Paul Ryan, et al are congregating at the 2014 Republican Leadership Conference. Yes, they all appear to have a way of creating a decent financial base…but the problem may be the sheep that just follow.

Here’s my thought. There is a myth that humans use only about 10% of the brain. The 10% is about the size of a sheep’s brain. Sheep have responded well to clicker training. I would tender a thought that the above-mentioned have learned how to use the clicker…well.

Question – Has social media truly become an extension of oneself to others or is it truly a vehicle of just looking in the mirror? I know that it is now a quick and easy way for the transferring of paper to a focused electronic medium. But in truth what does one call social media interaction when it appears that it is a blatant form of narcissism?

Okay so much for my mind today. Last night’s supper was good and in for a definite repeat. Montreal Garlic Ribs, Hassleback Potatoes, and a Salad. My blood sugar points jumped to 101. Must have been the spoon of sauce I ate; brown sugar, Soya sauce, water, garlic, and dry mustard. Each of The Pack were licking the air for some time due to the dollop for each from my finger.


This morning’s companion, Breaking Bad appears to be flexing itself and adding some other and more twists to the current plot lines. As long as there are no commercial breaks I can keep a smooth rhythm while I cycle on my Schwinn 150.


And watching Suits last night I got an idea. Maybe a quilt? Maybe a wall hanging? The wheels of my 20% are clicking.

Be healthy and enjoy, Jim

Day 187 – (AD 413) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.1 Miles – Follow the Florida Brick Road on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

At 12:45 am this early morning, just before I decided to go to bed, I set outside with The Pack for their final walk. The fog was thick and the saturated trees were dripping on us that I and each of the mini-canines were confused. No rain, just dripping leaves.

I had not seen fog as thick, especially in Tampa, since I was on the road to Grand Manan, New Brunswick sometime back in 1971. That was the time when a young buck deer jumped out from the roadside, landed on the bonnet, and totaled our late 1960s Toyota Corona Mark II.

And now it is late in the afternoon and I have completed a number of errands, and fix-ups. I did complete my cycling this morning. On my Schwinn 150 I cycled 22.1 miles and I burned 701 calories. I also completed another 100 sit-ups. Still not sure if I'm doing them correctly but they are, whatever they are, getting easier to do. At some point my nose will reach my bended knees.

I am beginning the end of the road…the end of the virtual road, the end of Jim’s Trek, Parts I and II. And will there be a Part III?

Today I am located, according to Google Maps at a point on County Road 10/FL-10 E/US-90 E. I am just about southwest of Westville, Florida and I am still in the Panhandle.

I ran out of episodes of Suits on Amazon Prime last night. I finished Season 2. Season 4 begins on the USA Networks the first part of March. But I was able find season 3 on Bright House Entertainment On Demand. One definitely needs a Google Maps to navigate through the crisscrossing television offerings and shows. There might be one already out there in Internetland but it certainly would make choosing and seeking so much easier.

Okay work continues on three projects – Tampa Kaleidoscope, a king size quilt; Warhol’s Itch, a fabric art piece (i.e., our Warhol’s Marilyn remake); and Glowing (aka A-New), a crocheted afghan. Check with Quilts SB and Afghans SB for updates shortly.

Oh and by the way the YDNA matching thing works. My results matched to the almost highest degree possible with a 1st Cousin at 23andMe. Our matching results are 11.0% shared and 24 segments. I will definitely have to spend some time digesting these results. My next close match is a 1st Cousin, Once Removed, 8.40% shared, 20 segments.

Doing quite well on the diabetes front. My fasting blood sugar was at 92 this morning. Tonight I think I am going to retry some recipes that I always do enjoy, Montreal Dry Garlic Spareribs, Hasselback Potatoes, and a Salad. For dessert I am going to try something new, Banana Fritters. Believe it or not even with this warm snap that we're having in Tampa I do feel like cooking.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 89 - (AD 312) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 22.0 Miles - There Are Hills on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning I cycled 22.0 miles on my Schwinn 150… and yes this is not a recording. This is my morning Trek, Jim’s Trek.

I am now currently on my 312th day of my cycling journey and on the 89th day of my return from Seattle to Tampa. I am still amazed at myself that I have not become bored with this repeated event of my daily routine. In two months I will begin my 63rd year and I wonder how many miles I will have cycled and where I will be in my virtual journey.

Today I am located and headed in a northwesterly direction on AZ-89 N. I am at an intersection of AZ-89, Date Creek and Stanton Roads. It doesn't look like it rains much around here and I can definitely see that I will shortly be climbing upwards. I do believe that Weaver Peak is somewhere to the left of the road.

Last night I threw together a Shrimp and Egg Noodle Salad. I made the Salad of some ingredients I found in my freezer, refrigerator and pantry. It was so damn good that I had to have a second plate… not just a second helping, a second bloody plate. And my morning fasting blood sugar count jumped up 10 points to 101 mg/dL, my calculated A1c equals 5.08%.

Work on band three of our new Vanderbilt afghan continues. As the design continues I have decided on three initial bands of the Caron color Lace. The quilting on our Longarm to our Tampa Kaleidoscope continues. We have started a new commissioned quilt and the chosen fabrics will make this new quilt sing.

I am still in Season Seven of The West Wing. The episodes are now highlighting the transitional period of the newly elected President. I can now understand the writing and developmental reasons for terminating the series at the end of this season. My choice for my next viewing companionship while I cycle? Any suggestions?

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 65 - (AD 288) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.0 Miles - Near Lancaster, CA on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

I cycled 21.0 miles on my Schwinn 150 this morning. I have now completed 1,377.2 miles on my return journey from Seattle back to Tampa. To date the Part II of my total journey has increased to 24.4% of my total journey. And this morning I burned 657 calories, and I'm sure I'll eat them back on today.

I am headed in an easterly direction on CA-138 E, also known as W Avenue D. I'm just about to come on to the intersection at 60th Street W. I am northwest of the City of Lancaster which is within the Antelope Valley region and California's High Desert. The population of Lancaster is somewhere about 157 thousand.

One of Lancaster's claim to fame - One of the three musical roads in the world. An excerpt of Gioachino Rossini's William Tell Overture, tar and bumps. The other two are in Japan and maybe that is Part III.


I wonder... Just thinking that if it would sound like Chopsticks should a bicycle travel over the musical groves?

And of course I am still follow The West Wing as my video companion to my Schwinn 150 cycling. Did I mention that I watch a movie or video series without commercial break as I am cycling? This helps me to commit myself to a continuous stream of cycling without any audible or mental interuptions. It definitely works for me.

This morning's lesson from the annals of The West Wing: Should you want someone to shut up and if you want them to curtail their negative politicking, create a bogus award and present it to them in a quick and sweet ceremony; the Francis Scott Key Key Award. (Season 4, Episode 18, Privateers...)

And I did it again, but this time I caught my error without having created too much of the ensuing Vanderbilt afghan band. It is a simple process but I have to keep focused between the single and the double rows. The re-constructed band is now 23". (Each inner band of this original design is projected to be 50".)

The quilting to our Tampa Kaleidoscope is looking great.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 64 - (AD 287) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 20.5 Miles - Cruising in California on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning I finished 20.5 miles on my Schwinn 150. The 5,600 mile mark has now been reached. My total miles as of this 287th day of cycling is 5,613.3. My next Interlake address goal is 209 miles away. I still have 2,677 miles to go to return home to Tampa, Florida. All-things-being-equal this Trek on my Schwinn 150 is turning into a short exercise and body changing jaunt of just about 8,300 miles, give or take...

Currently I am heading in a southeasterly direction on CA-138 E/270th St W/W Ave C-6/Lancaster Rd toward Pacific Crest Trail.  Google Maps' photo-cars have taken images at night.  The resulting photo on my notebook is not to bright.  I just lightened up the image to realize that I have to be wary and careful of on-coming 18-wheelers.

J&B's new plantation is filled with fruit-bearing papaya trees. Just made myself a papaya, banana/strawberry yogurt smoothie. Also tried my hand at a Sum Tom.

I do not think that I will, even though I am probably lying, ever eat at a fast food restaurant ever again... Follow this link...Fast Food Fancy.

I have decided to become a weather prognosticator. Today is Day Three and there are only 37 days and nights left to gather up the gopher wood here in Tampa. We've been having a H2Ocane without the winds, just the water, the thunder and lightning. Slight breeze though. I wonder if I can use the Cypress wood in the back yard?

While I'm on this stream of thought, my question is... when do those without any reasonable level of education or common sense always think that it is their God-given (or Allah-given) right to foist their segmented and biased learnings upon other persons and relatives? There has to be some inverse correlation between the levels of fanaticism and the degree of education. I think I'm going to have some shrimp for supper.

Politicians can be now and should be assimilated and likened to anything beyond the philosophy of Dr. Seuss. Ted Cruz, born Canadian and now American at 42 years, with baccalaureates plus from Princeton University, Harvard University, and Harvard Law School is now brilliantly presenting the credibilities of the constituents who elected him to the US Senate. Horton hops on Pop. Cruz in on Green Eggs and Ham and waste the citizens funds and time.

Well I finished the first band of my Vanderbilt afghan. A beautiful 8 ½" by 50". I then realized I had made two distinct errors, errors to my eyes. I unraveled 42" and continued again.Our quilting pattern, on our longarm, for the inner top of Tampa Kaleidoscope really looks slick. Don't forget to check out Afghans SB and Quilts SB for our progress and updates.

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 209 – Jim’s Trek – 20.6 Miles – Schwinn 150 to Spokane En Route To Seattle, Washington

Good Day, and Happy Canada Day,

This morning I cycled on my Schwinn 150 20.6 miles. I am now located on US-195 N, southwest of Spokane, Washington. I am headed toward US-90 West.

I suppose the reality of the virtual and real physical part of this Trek on my Schwinn 150 has just sunk into my thick grey matter… This is the situation especially from where I am located on US-195 N and I come upon the highway sign indicating that I am on route to Seattle. I have now pedaled 3,942.2 miles and I am currently trekking at 19.0 miles daily.

I now need to understand if my weigh scale is on the fritz. It is registering that I have put on weight… not inches, just pounds. This morning I weighed in at 166.4 pounds. Overall I have lost 4.4 pounds since I began my Trek on December 3, 2012. Guess I’ll have to figure out my BMI, Body Mass Index. A quick calculation computes my BMI at 22.7. I am well in the normal weight range; 18.5 to 24.9. So I don’t worry, I be happy. (I checked out the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute site.)

Walking half The Pack this past evening, I heard a tremendous commotion billowing down from one of the trees hanging over the sidewalk. I recognized the high pitched song of a male Cicada. Next thing I knew we were being bombarded by a bird in pursuit of a loud-clicking chubby lace-winged Cicada. The loud Tibicen, appropriately known as the Dog-Day Cicada, plummeted downward and landed on the sidewalk at my feet. Both Max and Radar were astonished and intrigued by the buzzing thing. I was about the reach out and capture the fierce little fellow, and within a flash Radar grabbed the Cicada and chomped away and swallowed. Gone.

Last night I expected to be awakened not by Radar’s typical yowl… but by his yapping tempered by the high-pitched squealing of a clicking crazy and kooky canine.  And sure enough a present of a masticated Cicada was found on the dog blankets this morning.

Writing of food, supper last night was a one of the best meals that I have prepared in a long time, at least since last week. I created a dish of pan-seared Grouper with Zucchini and Grape Tomatoes on Orzo pasta. Grouper, olive oil, salt pepper, shallots, lemon peel, lemon juice, fresh oregano, and fresh basil. Outstanding, and a meal that can be termed “celestial”.

For dessert I made a sort of Toll House chocolate chip cookie cheese cake type-of thing. Very simple to make; rolls of chocolate chip cookies, cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. And I had to have a second helping. Oh and bye-the-bye my blood sugar count this morning was 100.

Episode 6 of The Newsroom. Theme “Bullies”. Not kids, bullying kids… adults bullying adults. Aaron Sorkin is an amazing screenwriter.

The piecing of the completed hexagon strips of Tampa Kaleidoscope quilt has begun. The anticipated result is amazing, better than we expected. Seven cluster rows and 15 inches width are now finished to our Sea Foam afghan. Check out details on Quilts SB and Afghans SB.

Looks like the rain is a’coming. Happy Florida Monsoon.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 200 - Jim’s Trek - 21.2 Miles - It Is Now Official - 34 Inches!!!

Good Day,

Today on my Trek on my Schwinn 150, on my 200th day of cycling, I Finally... and that is with a capital “F”, have dropped 10-inches on my belly measurement. Another goal after 3,733.5 miles. It works!

And the funny coincidence is that my movie this morning was The Full Monty. I got to thinking that maybe I should pull-out the Saran Wrap and speed up the reduction of my belly size. When I started my Trek the measurement was 44”... and now I can yell, after six-and-a-half months... 34 INCHES. And no plastic wrap needed.

Obviously there is a definite correlation, and yes I know that is the bottom line, between eating well and exercise. My blood sugar count this morning registered at 88 mg/dL, or for you north of the border and overseas, 4.89 mmol/L. This count is well within the normal range. Not bad for Day 4 of no diabetes medication and Day 200 of continuous minus one day of trekking on my Schwinn 150.

And the above are the real facts.

This morning I am still, virtually, in Montana, on Highway US 2-W going in a northerly direction. I am south of Libby, Montana and in about two-plus days I should be entering into Idaho. All-things-being-equal I am about 490 miles from my final destination in Seattle.

The Full Monty, the 1997 comedy-drama certainly is apropos, and with current themes, 16 years later. People dealing with rampant unemployment and surviving, coping with relationships, marriage and divorce, straight and gay, parent and child, and just, not so simple, friendships, and self-acceptance. Not that I would, or could, run off and join the Chippendales, but it certainly makes me think of living day-to-day as me.

Tonight the attempted bill-of-fare will be Spicy Asian Shrimp Lettuce Wraps.

Progress continues on our Tampa Kaleidoscope quilt and our Sea Foam afghan.  Follow our updates on Quilts SB and Afghans SB.

And I need my desktop.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 196 – Jim’s Trek – 21.2 Miles – Better Results Than Expected on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,


Another 21.2 miles on my Schwinn 150. Total to-date 3,649.4 miles, 531.1 left to go to my final destination at Seattle, Washington. I am located this morning on the Montana Highway 206 heading south, just a shade west of Flathead National Forest.

And this morning it is certainly humid in Tampa at Interlake Drive. Just take a gander out to the pool and patio. One knows that the wet season is upon us here in Central Florida…

Due to the exercise, in consultation with my Cardiologist, I have stopped the use of three of my meds. Two definitely eliminated and the third reduced by one of the paired chemicals. Obviously I’ll be monitoring the effects. My blood pressure this morning, before cycling was 113/78. Not bad. All-things-being-equal it appears that the exercise, my cycling, has had a very positive consequence. My morning blood sugar count is 100, and I burned 617 calories.

Supper last night – Homemade Turkey Lentil Soup and Pasta Salad. Both dishes were created from leftovers and food-items found in the refrigerators. Great big pot of Turkey Lentil Soup resulted in six extra jars in storage… I was definitely thinking of the Three Crones in MacBeth as I was double, double toiling and troubling. The magic worked, the refrigerators are cleared.

This morning’s viewing pleasure was the second part of Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End, the third film. The Brethren Court assembled… of Pirate Captains of undetermined ages. It reminded me of our current day House and Senate filibustering, and a number of elected and appointed persons. It is all in the posing for the class photos.

Work continues on the piecing of the half-hexagons to create the strips for our Tampa Kaleidoscope. (I wonder why I can never spell the word Kaleidoscope correctly each time.) Work is now in process to determine quilting designs for a number of our completed tops. Check out our progress at Quilts SB. Sea Foam, our new afghan, is under construction. The third set of clusters is being created. Status updates provided at Afghans SB. Oh and by the way, only one more “Like” required to make Afghans SB an official Facebook Page.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 166 – Jim’s Trek – Alleluia! 3,000 Miles – Yeah!

Good Day,

Day 166 on my Schwinn 150 and I top 3,000 miles. I never thought I would do this. My total miles to-date: 3,019.0. I am located on the Trans-Canada Highway at Esk, Saskatchewan.

From my search and observations, Esk, on the Google mapping application, is a Hamlet. Not much there, and I can’t even find a population count listed. It appears that any Esk numbers may be included in the Jansen, about 6 miles away, numbers. Flat land and farms distantly placed apart. And of course this is where I stopped for the day… The sign does warn me that there are “No Services”.

I now have about 40 miles to go to get to my next Interlake address goal, and 1,148 miles to my ultimate goal in Seattle.

Okay, I do get stymied from time to time. Today is May Ray Day. Weather permitting, accordingly this is the day of May, with any excuse, to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. And yes the sun is shining here in Tampa, and yes I have been in the pool. No discernible information as to who, what, where, when began May Ray Day. I definitely can understand the why. Today is also National Devil’s Food Cake… Not a good celebration when one is trying to reduce one’s diabetes medication. Bah, humbug!

Doctors have agreed on the reduction of my diabetes medication. I am now taking only 25% of what I was taking when I started my Trek. I will be monitoring my blood sugar counts for the next month to see if there is a positive trend resulting from my exercise and diet. Counts were up a wee bit this morning, but I sort of expected that with the first day of the change. I definitely will now be aware of fried foods.

This morning’s viewing pleasure, first part, is the 2009 film Valhalla Rising. The star is Mads Mikkelsen who is currently involved in the television production of Hannibal. Valhalla Rising takes place about 1000 AD about a one-eyed Norse warrior and his travels.  The goal is a crusade but they seem to get lost.  A very strong visual presentation with minimal dialogue.

Immediate work continues on our Astro-Physics, Tampa Kaleidoscope, The Amulet, and Double Entendre. Stay tuned to updates at Quilts SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 165 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – I Continue in Saskatchewan

Good Day,

Today my cycling completed 20.5 miles. I am located on the Trans-Canada Highway in Saskatchewan just south of Big Quill Lake… (which of course, I initially read the map as Quilt Lake.) Quill Lake, a village on the northwest of Big Quill Lake and Little Quill Lake is known as the “Goose Capital of Saskatchewan”.

Tomorrow I will hit another milestone in my Schwinn 150 Trek. Stay tuned.

Supper last night included homemade Kale Walnut Pesto. Sausage Tortellini with Kale Walnut Pesto. Buitoni sausage tortellini… Pesto – kale from Urban Oasis, walnuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt pepper. I think I like this new diet. I’m eating in moderation, period!

Episode 6 of Da Vinci’s Demons becomes darker as we are introduced to Vlad the Impaler, aka Vlad III Dracula. Leonardo is still on his quest to understand the Sons of Mithras and his search for the Book of Leaves. The Medicis are in pursuit of alliances with neighboring kingdoms in their all and out acrimony with Rome and the Papacy.

This afternoon I checked out CK’s swimming lessons. I am the very proud Grandpa, of course, and I am there with my usual camera… It was when I was snapping pictures that something sort-of strange caught my eyes and lens. On a shelving unit the Elmo props and a life-like looking baby doll was stuck away in a heap. I really had to look twice. I must have been out of it for years… Are dolls now made that life-like or are my eyes ready for a new checkup?

Internet speed upgraded to 90 Mbps. Needless to say The Pack all wanted in to find out what was going on.  In the back - Taylor; right to left - Radar, Max, Bella, and Tinker.  We want in!!!

My Trek continues.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 164 – Jim’s Trek – 20.3 Miles – Kabochas Are Growing

Good Day,

This morning I cycled 20.3 miles on my Schwinn 150. I started late this morning, but I still managed to burn 619 calories and I exercised for one hour and five minutes. I have now changed my direction to a direct westerly heading and I am located on the Yellowhead Highway. I am now averaging, since the beginning of my Trek until Day 164, 18.4 miles per day.

My virtual reality Trek can be a wee bit confusing. Yesterday, Day 163, my Google map location image presented snow on the roadsides of the Highway. Today the sun is shining, the grass is green. This of course adds some questions, not necessarily negative, as to the methodology and timing of the sequential route photos that Google puts together in creating a visual representation of their mapping schemata.

And my blood sugar counts just keep getting better. Already I have reduced my diabetes medications in half. Today I now will reduce my daily dosage to 25% of what they were when I began my Trek. My goal, maintain my positive blood sugar results and eliminate all diabetes medications.  Does this mean that I am no longer a diabetic?  No... but definitely minimal chemicals.

Well I’m up-to-date with the current episodes of Da Vinci’s Demons. A few more pieces to the puzzle and mystery of the Book of Leaves are added. A person, a potion, a periscope, a paste, and a pig…? And as happenstance stands I am currently reading Peter Silverman’s 2012 book, Leonardo’s Lost Princess. It is “One man’s quest to authenticate an unknown portrait by Leonardo Da Vinci.”

Audrey 3 ½ has been growing and growing, flowering and flowering. I have now discovered her beginnings of the production of Kabocha Squash. Gorgeous yellow blossoms, a multitude of flower buds, and baby Kabochas...

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim