Day 159 – (AD 385) – Jim's Trek Part II – The Sequel – 20.7 Miles – Into Louisiana on My Schwinn 150

Good day,

This morning I cycled 20.7 miles on my Schwinn 150; my total 7,666.7. Sit-ups today, 50. Not bad for this elder bloke.

And this morning I crossed, virtually, over the State line on the Sabine Lake Causeway Bridge from Texas into Louisiana. Just wondering why the lake is named for an ancient people of central Italy.

I am located west of the line on LA-82 E. I am headed east toward Deep Bayou Road. I am now about 151 miles from my next Interlake address goal point. And I am just about 916 miles from the end of my Trek.

Hor Lan Shu Kai – Chinese Style Potato Chicken. Last night's supper: Chicken, potato, ginger, garlic, onion, soya sauce, sugar cornstarch, Jalapeño on Steamed Sweet Rice and Broccoli.

Okay so this was good.  Actually very good…but what was I thinking. Chicken, okay, but potatoes and rice? And so to prove it, my morning blood sugar was 115. Up 20 points from the morning before. Oh and I did have a bowl of ice cream and a medium bowl of Cheez-Its later in the evening. I wasn't thinking. Bad, bad, Jim. One would think that there is a definite correlation between carbohydrates and elevated blood sugar counts. Fine. I’ll put myself in the corner. Bad, bad, Jim…but the plate of food looked so, so pretty, and good.

This morning I decided to take on Netflix’s House of Cards. I’m hooked. I found me a new cycling serial to keep me company for the next while. Three things: A new The West Wing; Kevin Spacey; and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I’m really hooked. Oh and by the way, I’ll have to finish The Brass Teapot tomorrow.

Work continues on the construction and piecing of our BW 2010 quilt and wall hanging. Check Quilts SB for our latest update. I have to keep reminding myself to make sure that I do not crochet in my sleep. The V-stitches of our A-New afghan and throw need two arms and not just a single one.

Be healthy and enjoy your flock of turkeys,

Jim

Day 90 – (AD 313) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 21.1 Miles – Surrounded on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning I reversed a piece of my routine. I wrote my morning pages, 750 words, first and then I got on my Schwinn 150 and cycled 21.1 miles. My total to date, 6,172.5 miles.

And on my virtual Trek I am somewhere in what appears to be a dry scrub brush valley on AZ-89 N. I am a wee bit south and west of the Town of Kirkland, Arizona, population of about 1,600. From my location I can see mountains in every direction.

And I have finished watching, my cycling companion, The West Wing, all seven seasons and 156 episodes. I have to now find another video cohort to accompany me along my Trek.

This morning I watched the 2013 movie Haute Cuisine. Just up my alley, but a movie about cooking which I said was not a wise move for me to watch while I am cycling. But this movie, in French with subtitles, is about the short period of time the Hortense Laborie works as personal cook to the President of France, François Mitterrand.  It is narrated from her position and last day at a research base in Antarctica. Not bad, not great.


Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 80 - (AD 303) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.7 Miles - Still in The Desert On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning, surrounded by six members of The Rat Pack, I completed another 21.7 miles on my Schwinn 150. Total miles in 303 days, 5,954.9.

I am just 13 miles from the Parker, Arizona and I'm headed east on CA-62 E. I'm still in California and I certainly did not realize the vastness of the desert. Certainly pays mind to Hammond's and Hazelwood's 1972 "It Never Rains in Southern California".

Update on PC fix this morning: data transfer is still in progress. Should be returned in another day. And then my notebook appears to be going on the fritz. What would I be doing without the use of electronics? I wonder?

Began some new work on my Smith genealogy. I have begun sifting and searching through documents from the Grenada archives, via microfilm from the Family History Library.  The initial documents with Smith references are dated between 31 August 1797 and 11 July 1801. My goal is to find some shred of evidence and possible referrals to my three-times great-grandfather James Smith. I need my PC.

Currently working on the new designs for two new quilts: The Bird Cage and GPS. The Bird Cage is based on JG's construction of extraordinary bird houses. GPS is an inspiration of the art of GK. Who knows where these will lead? Details to follow on Quilts SB, when I get my PC back.

Thank you CJM for the prodding this morning.

I am in competition with no one. I have no desire of playing the game of being better than anyone. I am simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday.

And I love the Scotch Bonnet Pepper Spread.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 79 - (AD 302) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.7 Miles - This Desert Heat On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today I cycled 21.7 miles on my Schwinn 150. And yes I am still cycling and getting my dose of cardio-what-ya-ma-call-it exercise. I burned 623 calories and I'm averaging about 628 a day.

I am virtually located on CA-62 E in the desert and I am about 77 miles from my next Interlake address goal. Happenstance, sort of a synchronicity, when my virtual trip location in the California desert is just about the location where this morning's episode of The West Wing was plotting out for proposed placement of solar panels. All I know is that fuel pump prices in Tampa seem to be headed in a downward direction these days.

And St. Anthony must keep following me on this virtual trip. It appears that he is the patron saint of the desert and of bacon, albeit pigs. I will not follow with any "hot-enough-to-fry-eggs" liturgies.

You know when you are definitely in Florida and trying to have a quiet restaurant meal when two almost elderly couples take the table beside you, have forgotten their hearing aids, and begin and continue a dialogue, loud enough for all ears. The topic of conservation is about every, and the history of all, their ailments and medical visits and afflictions.

And I just wanted to enjoy my Panang Curry.

This morning's episode of The West Wing is number 115 of 154. Even though I have 39 more to go I have to now start thinking of my next viewing-cycling companion... Maybe Warehouse 13?

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 78 - (AD 301) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 22.4 Miles - 5,900 Miles On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning's cycling on my Schwinn 150 equalled 22.4 miles. And today I have reached the 5,900th mile; my total 5,911.5. After 301 days of cycling I finally noticed that there has been some change to my chubby face from about a year ago. I think the big deal has been the loss of 11 inches on my waist, and it looks like all my drawers have to be taken in.

I am located in a desert somewhere in the southeastern part of California.  I am on;CA-62 E/Desert Center Rice Road and about 57 miles to the Arizona State border.

A very close friend of mine made mention some time ago that I may be trying to channel Forrest Gump. Of course I took that as a positive compliment... And so I have been trying to learn the associated theme music on my Yamaha, not cycle, but piano and synthesizer. Does not sound half bad, but not ready for the concert halls of the world.

First stages of the kitchen reconstruction began this morning. Day One checked off the calendar.

Replacement drive for my main PC has finally arrived. Three week trip from Idaho. Now comes the compatibility rewrites to work with Windows 8 and Linux. I need my PC.

Work continues on our Tampa Kaleidoscope quilt. Blumish Two and Cosmo's Moon are currently on display this weekend, October 10 - 12, at the MQX Quilt Festival - Pacific Northwest in Portland, Oregon. Our schedule now includes 24 projects all at various stages of design and construction.

The second band of our Vanderbilt afghan is currently under construction. All colors have been chosen. Now I will be working on the actual design as I go.


My attempt on Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce changed on the make. I bottled five pints of Scotch Bonnet Pepper Spread. And if I say so myself not bad on a salami and cheese roll-up. A wee bit hot, but not bad.


Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 77 - (AD 300) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 22.0 Miles - 300 Days On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today is my 300th day of cycling on my Schwinn 150 since December 2. I cycled another 22.0 miles today. The real part of my Trek, a total to date 5,889.1 miles.

And on the virtual journey I am on CA-177 N/Desert Center Rice Road. I wonder what the Google camera dudes were thinking as they traversed this dry and parched part of our country... but just think of the adventure.

I have turned off of the Christopher Columbus Intercontinental Highway and am headed in a north easterly direction. I am about 80 or so miles from the California - Arizona border.

My viewing companion while I cycled this morning is The West Wing. Today I now begin the sixth season and the negotiations regarding the Middle East continue. I wonder after Cain and Abel, and Abel and Cain, and Cain and Abel will there ever be a resolved peace. Fact or fiction, how many aeons?

This morning I received an inviting spam email from Lisa... "Not sure you can handle it. I'm a 30 lady longing for a younger man to give me a great time..."


Message to Lisa, time to get your pacemaker, your glasses, and your PC replaced.


Andy and I presented our Evolution last night in Orlando at the Florida Cabin Fever Quilters Guild. I believe we were well received and we certainly enjoyed ourselves. Thank you ever so much for the invitation.

And now to focus on the new generation of our quilts and wall hangings. Stay tuned, to Quilts SB. I will be updating once I do get my PC fixed which I hope is today or tomorrow. Three weeks is a long, too long, time.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 75 - (AD 298) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.7 Miles - In The Desert on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

My cycling this morning, my Schwinn 150, 21.7 miles. And today I am located and headed in a northeast direction on Box Canyon Road. From the Google satellite image it appears that this portion of Box Canyon Road is a dried up river bed. The next intersection and cross road is Power Line Road which is about six-and-a-half miles away.

I have now cycled, on my return trip back from Seattle to Tampa, 27.2% of my total Trek of cycled miles of 5,846.6. It looks like I will reach my 32nd goal and the 6,000 mile mark at about the same time.

And I was thinking that I was getting into a rut this morning as I sat down at my notebook to write to my Jim's Trek blog. I started surfing and thinking of something interesting that I may include when I noticed an article in The Guardian. It was Oliver Burkeman's October 4 article, Rise and shine: the daily routines of history's most creative minds.

Now I do not expect in anyway to go down in history as one of those minds, or in anyway paired up with the minds of the individuals mentioned in Burkeman's article...but, I can breathe.  I can look at my morning and daily routine as not necessarily a rut but a part of my journey.  And now I understand why I have adamantly focused myself of Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way, A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.

I wonder if the minds of the past Franklin, Rand, Beethoven, Proust, O'Keefe, et al would have used a notebook, an iPad, a Schwinn 150?

And I had one hell of a time today trying to post my images...and so I am a wee bit late posting today.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 74 - (AD 297) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 20.6 Miles - La Quinta, California on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today's mileage - 20.6 on my Schwinn 150. And I have succeeded in reaching my 31st Interlake/Interlachen address goal. I cycled on through the community and paused at the intersection of Merion and Interlachen in La Quinta, California. "B" marks the spot.

Continuing on, I am now located on Airport Blvd and 56th Avenue. I am headed in a westerly direction and will be soon crossing Monroe Street.  And for the new readers the exercise is the real part of the trip, the journey on the road is the virtual part.

La Quinta has a population of about 37,500 and definitely appears to be a golfing community. The Robb Report credits La Quinta as the leading golf destination in the US.

And I did find, even though I have never lost one as I am not a golfer, a St. Anthony golf ball. Remember he is the patron saint of finding lost things. Three St. Anthony balls are available for $10.95 at Catholic Supply. I suppose these may work on any fairway. 

My next and 32nd Interlake address goal is 186 miles away. It also appears that my virtual Trek has now reached its probable southern point on my journey back from Seattle to Tampa. I think I will be heading in an almost westerly direction from now on.

My current stats are: -

• Location – La Quinta,California
• Sequel Distance – 20.6; Total 1,567.8 miles
• Grand Total Miles – 5,824.9
• Calories Burned - 606
• Weight – 163.4 lbs; Total Loss – 7.4 lbs
• Belly Measurement - 33"; Total Loss - 11"
• Blood Sugar - 86 mg/dL
• Blood Pressure – 125/79
• BMI – 22.9

This morning's episode of The West Wing, Season 5, Episode 18 - Access was where a television documentary crew follows the White House Press Secretary around to film a "typical" day. An interesting concept and performance for the 106 episode of The West Wing.

Last night's supper - Chicken mushroom broccoli risotto.  I'm beginning to enjoy preparing risottos but as I am only eating them and not being judged, even though the dish tastes wonderful, I cannot assess whether I am actually making a "judge-quality" concoction.  But it sure tasted good.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 63 - (AD 286) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.0 Miles - Frazier Park, California

Good Day,

Today is my 300th posting of Jim's Trek.

This is the journey that I began on December 2, 2012; a journey both real and virtual. The ultimate goal of my Trek on my Schwinn 150, a stationary bicycle, was to begin and continue an exercise regime that would, hopefully, realize me some benefits. And this morning I topped, or should I say I bottomed out another one. My fasting blood sugar count recorded in at 80 mg/dL. And my other success is the fact that I have lost 11-inches on my waist measurement.

Jim's Trek is my journal, recording both my real exercise and the results...It is a physical, mental, and virtual Trek that provides me with the reality and illusion of goals that I can physically and mentally reach while I exercise. Jim's Trek is not a presentation of a sham. The virtual corresponds with the reality. The physical results are the proof.

And today I completed an addition 21.0 miles on my Schwinn 150. I am averaging about 1 hour and 6 minutes every day, and today I burned 651 calories. To date since December 2 I have clocked 5,593.3 miles.

This morning I reached the Village of Frazier Park which lies within Cuddy Canyon inside the Los Padres National Forest in California. I am still on my return Trek from Seattle, Washington to Tampa, Florida. The population of Frazier Park is about 2,700 and the elevation is 4,639 feet above sea level, just a wee bit higher than my physical location in Tampa. I now am within 230 miles of my next and 31st Interlake address goal location.

After 15+ years having been diagnosed as a Diabetic, I can honestly say that I have been able to "beat" the odds. Coupled with my regular cycling on my Schwinn 150, a reasonable diet, and NO diabetes medication for the last 63 days, for all intents I do not record a regular diabetes threshold. This morning this is the message I received:

You have indicated that your Fasting Blood Glucose is 80.

Congratulations! Your blood glucose level is within normal limits and you do not have diabetes at present.

I am not a doctor. I am a 61-year old retired English Teacher and Banker, but logic would tell me that an average fasting blood sugar count of 103.5 mg/dL for the same period of 63 days, without any diabetes medication, certainly warrants some note. I wonder if there is a doublespeak oxymora somewhere within the careers of English Teacher and Banker?

I think I am going to construct a "Doggy-Treadmill" for Radar. I figure that while I am on my Schwinn 150 he can trot and gallop beside me in order to burn the excess energy that he keeps bottled inside...And that would tend to me chasing him through the backyards and yards of our neighborhood. And he is a good looking, smart, little DEVIL-Dog.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 62 - (AD 285) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 22.0 Miles - On The Road in California

Good Day,

This morning I decided that I would break the 21.7 mile repeat. I cycled on my Schwinn 150 22.0 miles. It just didn't make sense to do less.

I am heading east on Forest Highway 95/Hudson Ranch Road toward Forest Route 9N27. Guess I will be continuing to follow Forest Highway 95 for a bit and a couple of days.

Okay call me a rube from Florida, (I've lived here long enough but definitely not a redneck), but if there wasn't a paved road with a painted line down the center of the image I certainly might expect to see a rancour of cowboys come riding over the hills.

My current stats -

• Location – Hudson Ranch Road, California
• Sequel Distance – 22.0; Total 1,315.2 miles
• Grand Total Miles – 5,572.3
• Calories Burned - 651
• Weight – 165.8 lbs; Total Loss – 5.0 lbs
• Belly Measurement - 33"; Total Loss - 11"
• Blood Sugar - 89 mg/dL
• Blood Pressure – 125/83
• BMI – 23.1

And he did it again! The little bugger shimmied out of the double supposedly secure and my ingenious harness contraption. But before he could bound off and start his catch-me-if-you-can marathon I flew through the air and grabbed him in a flying tackle. Boy was he shocked! And after scolding him, the next I knew was that this little scamp of a devil-dog was snuggled up in my lap for the remainder of the evening.  Radar - 6; Jim - 1. And if anyone has any idea for a good and secured harness for Radar, one that he cannot slip backwards out of, I certainly would appreciate any thought.

Have you ever had the issue of an unseen gnat buzzing you incessantly? They have one goal in their minuscule and boring little life, to try and bite you to obtain some sort of sustenance to feed and regenerate its tiny existence. And they can be a bother when they feel a connection. But a quick flick of a hand sends it into the oblivion of never-never land.

Back to my cycling on my Schwinn 150. Next goal just around the corner, 5,600 miles.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 61 - (AD 284) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.7 Miles - Brown Everywhere on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

And once again, this morning I cycled 21.7 miles on my Schwinn 150. I wonder if there is any significance to the fact that these last four days I have stopped, without any purpose at 21.7 miles. I wonder...

I am now located still on CA-33 S/West Side Highway, but I appear to have added another virtual/real highway, the CA-166 W. I am heading south and I did travel through the City of Maricopa. It looks like I will be trekking through some similar landscape for the next couple of days.

The question this day is do we need to listen to the voices of the few? No. Do I listen to the ranting of the insignificant single ones? No.  I do think that there is merit in a single voice with well-thought out ideas, but... is there any worth of a waste of grey matter over the rant of a nondescript Internet tap? No.

And I created a double harness for my Houdini rascal Radar.  Will this work?

My companion this morning is The West Wing. Thank you Netflix. President Bartlet has just been re-elected and the pace of the story lines do not stop. This is a good companion to my cycling as it keeps my mind focused.

And a new crocheted afghan has begun.  Stay tuned to Afghans SB for upcoming details. We will be checking and updating our Quilts SB schedule shortly.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 60 - (AD 283) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.7 Miles - Still in California on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning's cycle miles totaled 21.7; grand total now 5,528.6. I am still located on CA-33 S/West Side Highway and it certainly looks dry.

Apart from my exercise this morning on my Schwinn 150, Radar was able to Houdini himself out of his harness. Another hour was spent traipsing and running around in the neighborhood chasing after that dog. And he managed to slip out of the new strait jacket harness that I had just bought. I am now going to create my own combo-harness-strait jacket. I have taken two of his harnesses and have made a contraption of straps and buckles. We'll see if he can outsmart me the next time.  The score now is Radar - 6, Jim - 0.

This morning's viewing while on my Schwinn 150 was a James Bond movies. I think I mentioned it before but a movie with more action appears to cause me to cycle at a quicker pace than one that is less strenuous. This morning I actually burned more calories, 643, than I have when watching a more sedentary-type show. I wonder if this could be attributed to the fast pace and action scenes?

My Sea Foam afghan has been completed and my detailed and final write up can be seen at Afghans SB. I have now gathered the colored yarn for the next project. Stay tuned.

The quilting and the binding and our label have all been finished for Blumish Two.  Stay tuned to Quilts SB for my pending write-up. Next on the progress schedule is the quilting of our Tampa Kaleidoscope.

Our Blumish Two and Cosmo's Moon are now being readied to be shipped to Portland.  Both have been accepted as finalists at the 2013 MQX Quilt Festival - Pacific Northwest.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 59 - (AD 282) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.7 Miles - 33" at 5,500 Miles on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

Today I cycled another 21.7 miles on my Schwinn 150. I am now located at CA-33 S/West Side Highway and heading toward Lerdo Highway. And if I don't want to read Herman Melville's Moby Dick I just do not pick up the book.

This morning I topped 5,500 miles; that plus another 6.9. I had to look at myself in the mirror and realized that there has definitely been a body reshaping over these past 282 days. I began my Trek with a 44" waist and this morning's measurement realized a 33-inches. Hot damn! This cycling does work...over time. Isn't that correct, Ishmael?

And there is now 316 miles, both actual and virtual, remaining until my next Interlake address goal. Definitely the challenge to myself, Cap'n Ahab.

Just found out that I will still be without my PC until about Monday or Tuesday next week. I didn't realize exactly how much I do work, even with five blogs, on my desktop.

Learned about blocking afghans yesterday. Will have to schedule time to do both Double Entendre and Sea Foam to apply techniques. Our Blumish Two is just about completed and it is look pretty sweet. Check both Afghans SB and Quilts SB for updates and progress.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 58 - (AD 281) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 21.7 Miles - Have You Seen Kecks Corner?

Good Day,

Has anybody seen where Kecks Corner has gone? Population...well, there ain't any. This morning my 21.7 miles on my Schwinn 150 has me on CA-46 headed south east just past Kecks Corner, California. Seriously, where have all the people gone?

Today I can say that my 5,485.2 miles on my Schwinn 150 has definitely produced some results to this senior's body, that's if I am now classified as a senior. Hell, I noticed yesterday at the barbershop that on my next 62nd birthday my hair becomes less expensive.

My viewing pleasure on my Trek this morning was, and is continuing to be, The West Wing. It is a wonder that I never got involved with this show the first time around. It certainly is a good show just for a mental stimulus and acumen. The intelligent banter and repartee with the visual "walk and talk" pacing of the show can definitely wake me up in the morning. I have now watched episode 68, number 3 in Season 4. Only 87 more to go.

Question - Today is Talk like a Pirate Day... So who's got it wrong? What happened to Gasparilla held at the end of January beginning of February. So why was it set on June 6, 1995 by Misters Baur and Summers.

Last night supper was at Yummy Noodle House on Waters Avenue in Tampa. It is one of three Yummy restaurants in Tampa and the food is very, very good. Our table had dumplings, Shrimp dumpling soup, Beef on noodles, and stir fried Chinese Broccoli. And my blood sugar count this morning clocked in at 82.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 57 - (AD 280) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - 22.1 Miles - Shandon, CA on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

And yes I am definitely late posting to my Jim's Trek blog tonight... But I did do my cycling this morning, and then I had to deal with  the electric company, pool pump, PC, and reconstruction issues. Better write late than never.

My 22.1 miles today on my Schwinn 150 has me now located and headed east on CA-46 E toward Hopper Canyon Road. I am situated on the road on the northern outskirts of Shandon in the County of San Luis Obispo. The population of Shandon is about 1,300.

I have now completed 5,463.5 miles of this crazy Trek on my Schwinn 150. Did I mention that I also take The Pack for an afternoon mile walk at least about five days a week. Calculating the total Pack miles, I would figure that I have also walked an additional 200 miles.

I now have about 360 miles to go to get to my next and 31st Interlake address goal. And I just found out that the pool pump on the house was also fried due to the Tampa Electric power surge. Damn! I should have been born long before Thomas Edison...and then I would only have to worry about starvation or freezing to death. It has become a running joke when one calls TECO, the electric company that serves the Tampa area. Apart from listening to a fembot repeat menu choices you are now transferred to different departments and/or agencies dependent upon what part of the electrical peice of the product is involved. Today it was five bloody departments!

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 56 - (AD 279 ) - Jim's Trek Part II - The Sequel - In California on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning on my Schwinn 150 I am surrounded eerily by six pairs of eyes. The Pack has increased by two: Mox, Harbor, Radar, Bella, Tinker, and Max. One hundred and ten pounds down to 10. And I cycle my 22.1 miles eagerly.

Reality check - a dude (of sorts) on a Schwinn 150 cycling, ringed by eager canines. Virtually, I am cycling on in California on Godfrey Road, and I come to a junction, San Marcos Road and Nacimiento Lake Drive. I take a right-hand turn on Nacimiento Lake Drive, and I am headed in a southeasterly direction towards Paso Robles. I am so glad that I can speak Spanish. ¿Sabes el camino a Paso Robles?

Check-in stats -

• Location – Nacimiento Lake Drive, California
• Sequel Distance – 22.1; Total 1,184.3 miles
• Grand Total Miles – 5,441.4
• Calories Burned - 615
• Weight – 164.0 lbs; Total Loss – 6.8 lbs
• Belly Measurement - 34"; Total Loss - 10"
• Blood Sugar - 85 mg/dL
• Blood Pressure – 110/71
• BMI – 23.0

The West Wing has also become another habit, but I at times cannot separate reality and imagination. My current episode "The Black Vera Wang" causes me to think on the question of whether and taking into account the incident yesterday in DC at the Navy Yard, we are at peace or are we at war?

And while I am thinking...supposedly VGER, aka Voyager I, has left our Solar System. Okay I can buy that, not that I am in any way or strength fielded in the studies of astrophysics or space flight. But if the thing-a-ma-jig on the Voyager I, which was launched by NASA in 1977, and which was supposed to be able to measure the actual exit from our Solar System, broke in 1980, how the hell can we tell? My binoculars cannot see that far.

And this is what was served for supper last night. Check in at Jim's Gotta Eat for details. I'll be posting soon.

Be healthy and enjoy.

Jim

Day 55 – (AD 278) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.3 Miles – 5,400 Miles and 30th on My Schwinn

Good Day,

This morning I completed my 22.3 miles on my Schwinn 150. This now means two more of my goals have been achieved today. One, I have now clocked over 5,400 miles on my Schwinn 150, actually 5,419.3. Two, I have reached my 30th Interlake address goal. I am still in California.

I am now headed southeast on County Road G14 or on Interlake Road. I am just to the right of the San Antonio Reservoir. And I am feeling damn good! My next and 31st Interlake address goal is somewhere in the vicinity of an area southeast of Los Angeles...and that is all I will tell.

This map is a current routing of my return Trek from Seattle to Tampa that I have cycled so far. It is my route from Interlake Avenue in Seattle, Washington to Interlake Road in Bradley, California.

And I do not like to harp on about medical issues but I just thought that it was sort of a hoot that today I had two appointments; the front and the back doors.

But I suppose I could go on about the physical ailments in this house... My prime PC has not been returned. The water pump on the pool stopped working, and the house still resembles the set of an upcoming episode of the Some Far East Hoarders Textile Reality Show.

There is now one more row of single chains to complete the border for our Sea Foam afghan. Blumish Two quilt is undergoing a thorough review of all starts and stops.

Check out the October 7th scheduling in Orlando at Florida Cabin Fever...

Am reading a book by Jack Foster "How to Get Ideas". On Page 70, "Of course you are in a rut. Admit it...And because you are in a rut, every day your five senses are recording the same things they recorded yesterday - the same sights, the same feelings, the same smells, the same sounds, the same tastes...But please, today, do something. Something different..."

The art of Guisseppe Colarusso. Something different, something to think about. Cyclopsufficient.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 54 – (AD 277) – Jim’s Trek Part II – The Sequel – 22.0 Miles – Headless to Jolon

Good Day,

My 22.0 miles this morning on my Schwinn 150 has me located somewhere on County Road G14, also known as Jolon (pronounced He-lone) Road. Obviously I am en route to Jolon.

And I have only about 21 miles to my next Interlake address goal point. But I definitely have to be careful to avoid encountering the headless ghost of Alice Halloran as she searches for her head and her baby Clara who were killed in a tragic accident of 1898.

And tomorrow I will clock 5,400 miles and I will be able to check off my 30th Interlake address point in my overall Trek.  This is Jim's Trek.

The West Wing, 60th Episode - The US Poet Laureate, introduces Laura Dern as a character.  There are at least four other sub-plots continuing and interconnecting as Sorkin would have it.

The border of Sea Foam is nearing completion... It looks like I will have to block the Sea Foam afghan.  A review of Blumish Two is currently underway as we have decided to add part two of the quilting pattern to this new quilt.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim