Day 137 – Jim’s Trek – 20.4 Miles – The Tudors Finale

Good Day,

The young man is now in custody.

This morning I seemed to be a wee bit more enthusiastic regarding my cycling on my Schwinn 150. I burned 601 calories and completed 20.4 miles. To date I have now clocked 2,412.1 miles. My time is now 1 hour and just under 6 minutes. My weight is remaining stable at 167.6 lbs.

Today I cycled by Cavalier, North Dakota and I am located on ND 18 N just north of 96th Street NE. Cavalier’s apparent claim to fame; it was founded in 1877 and its zip code is 58220. I now have 146 miles to reach my next Interlake address goal and I have 1,609 miles remaining in my Trek to my ultimate Seattle goal.

I missed noting that yesterday was DNA Day… and now I understand why I received so many unsolicited emails inciting me to have my DNA tested. And today is somewhere lost in the past. It is Record Store Day. With digital music, iTunes, and Amazon, I suppose I could bring out my old vinyl albums and decorate for this evening’s supper.

And today, on my Schwinn 150, I watched the final episode of The Tudors. Charles of Suffolk passes away. Henry prepares for his own death. Holbein is commissioned to capture an ultimate portrait of His Majesty. Now I must find a new visual and mental stimulus to preoccupy me while I am exercising on my Schwinn 150. The second season of Continuum begins tomorrow. I was thinking about working with Warehouse 13 and with Mad Men. My secret to working my exercise is to ensure that there are no commercial breaks included in what I am watching. It works for me.

Our EssbeeCon quilt is on route to the Denver National Quilt Festival VIII. Work continues now on the borders for our new Equality quilt. And Cosmo’s Moon arrived in Jacksonville, Florida this morning on its trip to the Home Machine Quilt Show in Salt Lake City.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 136 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles – Cycling in the Hinterland of North Dakota

Good Day,

My thoughts are that there be no more tragic incidents in the current pursuit of the Boston Marathon violence suspect. And is the media ever doing the job by dragging out every question and response to the nth degree, especially when “a couple of cars are beginning to move…” and “…a couple of cars moved in, and a couple of cars pulled out…”

I completed my daily cycling on my Schwinn 150 Trek. I finished 20.8 miles and burned 601 calories. I am still headed north on North Dakota 18 N, also known as 140th Avenue NE. I have just crossed over 80th Street NE. The roadway scenery has not changed, fields and woods and road as far as my eye can see.

Hoople, nicknamed “Tatertown”, North Dakota is just southwest, a short distance from where I am. The 2010 population of this Tatertown was about 242. Hoople is best known for the location of the University of Southern North Dakota… a fictional university created by the comedic musician and composer Peter Schickele, aka P.D.Q. Bach. Okay…



Peter Schickele, in the above YouTube video is the commentator who spends Christmas at his part-time job.

And it is now 28°F in the area near and around where I’m at. I did pass by a couple of modern-style homesteads built for the region.

The Tudors – Penultimate episode of The Tudors. Henry is old. Henry is moving slowly. Henry believes that everyone is out to get into position. Increased angst between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants... the Reformation is confused.

All 81 9-inch block of our new Equality quilt have been joined together. Now the corners and the border are in progress. We are thrilled at the combination of the fabric colors. I am currently working on the quilting pattern. Check our status and progress on Quilts SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 135 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles – iPhone Diagnosis

Good Day,


This morning I truly did not want to get on my Schwinn 150 and continue with my Trek… but I pulled myself up on the cycle and I completed 20.8 miles. I burned 602 calories. I endure, and so bloody glad that I did. I kept repeating to myself: I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this. Total mileage completed to date is 2,370.9.

I am headed north on ND 18 N and just about at 59th Street NE.

According to an interpretation of my Physical Biorhythm is that I am recharging in my low period. I am moving upwards into my positive range and should move into the “better” half of the cycle within the next couple of days. Today I am at, according to my biorhythm, at a “Physical low phase”. I need to “rest, regenerate powers, accumulate energy.”

The graph is from MultiBiorhythm.

And I do like the quote of the day attributed to Albert Einstein –

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

Thank you PC for sending me the following about Dr. Eric Topol and the technology of the future of medicine. Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=r13uYs7jglg Amazing!!!

The Tudors episode update – England takes Bologne. Henry’s getting old. The Catholics are plotting to burn the heretics, and the beat goes on.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 134 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles - And I Love to Cook

Good Day,

This morning I cycled on my Schwinn 150 through Larimore, North Dakota. My 20.5 miles today has me now located, headed north on 37th Street NE and just north of 20th Avenue NE. I am now approximately 209 miles from my next Interlake address goal. Stay tuned to see if I make this 20th Goal.

My numbers are stable and constant, this morning. I have completed 71.2% of my original Tampa to Seattle Trek. I am now beginning to add some extra miles and more Interlake address goals.

Supper, last night, was Vietnamese Stir-Fried Scallops on Rice noodles. Damn, I really do love to cook… especially when I too enjoy the meal. I love to experiment with food… and always dare myself to try something new.

The Tudors – Henry and England goes to war against France. Queen Catherine is left in charge… Obviously this war dragged out for some time as the episode ends with Henry surveying the battlefield and the ramparts of Boulogne.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 133 – Jim’s Trek – 20.9 Miles – 19th Interlake Goal Achieved

Good Day,

I completed my Trek miles today and then I spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon babysitting my Grandson. Play time, lunch fed and play time again, Grandpa is certainly due for a nap. The Kid was out like a light. And now I am seated writing up my Schwinn 150 Trek.

I burned, pre-Kid, 601 calories and I cycled 20.9 miles. I reached my 19th Interlake address goal this morning. From my starting point I first cycled on my Schwinn 150 13.7 miles to Interlake Road in Hatton, North Dakota. I had to back track to County Highway 8 for the remainder of my morning miles. I have now completed a total of 2,329.6 miles. I am now located and headed north on County Highway 8.

I'm somewhere in the west of North Dakota. I am southwest of the City of Grand Forks, ND.

Henry VIII obviously had something for women who had the name Catherine. He, in this episode of The Tudors meets, soon to be widow, Catherine Parr. The Catholics in power are trying to stamp any shred of Protestantism. I don’t know if there was some dramatic license, but I never realized the amount of torture that may have been used during the period of the English Reformation.

Red fabric arrived, washed and the blocks for our Equality quilt are in process. Minor changes to the original design have been made, specifically to create interesting corners. The design for our new quilt Waterfall is well on the way.

Scallops for dinner tonight.

Be healthy, and enjoy.

Jim

Day 132 – Jim’s Trek – 20.2 Miles – 69.94% Completed On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning on Day 132 of my Schwinn 150 Trek I burned off 600 calories; translated 20.2 miles. I am located at N Dakota 18 N/N Dakota 200 W, northwest of Portland, North Dakota. My Google image doesn’t show much white on the ground. The temperature at Portland is now 31°F and there is a 90% chance of snow. One thing positive about the white stuff, the pollen count is 1 out of 12… On the other hand, the pollen count in Tampa is 8.5 out of 12. Bless you.

I think the weather reporting at Wunderground is a bit screwy. It is reporting that the temperature right now at my home in Tampa is 96.3°F. I think that someone incorrectly entered the external thermometer.

This morning I have now hit 69.94% of my original Tampa to Seattle goal. My total miles clocked to date are 2,308.7. I will probably hit my 19th Interlake address goal tomorrow.

Yesterday I was playing songs for CK on my iPhone… As soon as Bob Marley’s Buffalo Soldiers began, CK was smiling and bouncing… and he appeared to be singing each time the chorus began “Woy, yoy, yoy…”


The Tudors – Scratch off Dereham, Culpeper, Lady Northrup, and Catherine Howard.  Chopped off heads, hangings, and quartering.  That was this episode. New season of The Borgias began... Somewhat confusing, more people dying and being killed. I also started watching the new PBS miniseries Mr. Selfridge about the creation of a new-type of department store in 1908 London. And Game of Thrones, Season 3 and Episode 3 is confusing. Some much information, so little time. And did someone say I was NOT into series?

Waiting for red fabric for our Equality quilt. To be delivered today. First draft of Waterfall quilt completed. Cosmo’s Moon quilt wall hanging is now undergoing our final examine before shipping. To date 2,923 people have tuned in and checked out our Cosmo’s Moon on Quilts SB Facebook. I need to examine the status of all our quilts and wall hangings in progress. Tune in to Quilts SB.

I am now examining a remake of my A Genealogy Hunt site. This will take some time as I have already posted 1,063 Posts. Thank you Bernard and Kathrine. I will definitely take suggestions.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 131 – Jim’s Trek – 20.1 Miles – No Icebergs

Good Day,

I’m watching for icebergs, maybe ice flows, today on the 101st anniversary of the disaster of the Titanic. And of course, today, where I am at on the road, there is a strong prediction of snow. It is mostly cloudy and feels like 20°F. And call this happenstance or what? Just after I wrote my previous sentences about the 101st I then checked today’s news and encounter the headline from USA Today “1 Missing in Avalanches East of Seattle.” Coincidental? On the other hand it feels like 72°F in Tampa. Hurray for my Schwinn 150.

This morning, after my first day off, I completed my goal of burning 602 calories; translated 20.1 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes. I am now located just on the northern edge of the Township of Blanchard, North Dakota. I think that this is the smallest town that I have cycled through so far. The 2010 population was 26. I’m just about at the junction of North Dakota State Highway 18 and ND State Highway 200. I have now completed 2,288.5 miles on my Trek from Tampa to Seattle.

Blanchard’s claim to fame… Just about 6 miles away is the tallest man-made structure in the western hemisphere, the KVLY-TV mast.

Queen Catherine’s earlier paramour, Francis Dereham, appears on the scene in today’s episode of The Tudors. He blackmails his way into the Royal service, and his drunken bouts may speed up his downfall. Charles, much to his chagrin, keeps encountering the ghost of Jean Valjean aka Lord Darcy.

Blue and yellow blocks and rows completed for Equality quilt. Red fabric should arrive tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates and our progress at Quilts SB. A new design, Waterfall, is now in the works, a combination between traditional and contemporary. I think this will be a simple but classic looking quilt. We’re trying to increase of Likes on Quilts SB Facebook to hit a 500 goal.

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