Day 213 – Jim’s Trek – 20.7 Miles – Grand Ole Day For Singin’- 4,000 Miles Passed

Good Day,

I began my blog Jim’s Trek on November 28, 2012. It is a simple journal of my Trek on my Schwinn 150 with my intended purpose of just recording my results and keeping myself focused on my goals – Cycle 3,301 miles and reduce my weight measurement by 10 inches. Well today on Day 213 of my Trek I have cycled, on my Schwinn 150 4,006.6 miles, and I can say that my waist measurement has reduced to 34 inches from 44 inches.

Today I completed 20.7 miles and I am located in Washington on US-2 W/State Road 2 E. I am headed west to my next Interlake address goal. I am east of the Town of Wilbur, population approximately 890. Once again there’s not much to see from the road. But I am just a wee bit southeast of an old missile site, 567th SMS, Fairchild FSB Sit 7 – Wilbur.

Only 251, plus or minus, miles remaining to my final Interlake address destination.

And today is Bikini Day… Not the Atoll in the Pacific Ocean but of the one designed in 1946 by Louis Reard. But please, please, please…

And last night I had my black bean concoction for supper: black beans, onion, hot sauce, brown rice, chicharrones, garlic, and grilled hot dogs. Simple and good.

Episode 10, The Newsroom – The Greater Fool, and the question who is/are? And quoting Citibank’s John Prince, in 2007, “When the music stops…things will be complicated. But as long as the music is playing, you’ve got to get up and dance. We’re still dancing.”


Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 212 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – 11th Degree of Resistance on The 4th of July

Good Day and Happy 4th,

Today I cycled on my Schwinn 150 20.5 miles. I am on located on State Route 2 E a wee bit west of Davenport, Washington. Population about 1,730. My total miles, as of the 4th of July, equal 3,985.9. 

All-things-being-equal, tomorrow I will be surpassing the 4,000 mark.  This is real not a virtual count.

Oh and by the way I increased the resistance on my Schwinn 150 to 11 of 15 a couple of days ago. I didn’t write to promote the idea as I wanted to make sure that I would survive the additional resistance. I have.

Sorry, not a real apology, but fireworks and The Pack do not mix, especially, and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, definitely the 4th. And I am sure on the 5th, 6th, 7th. Wonder how the ancient Pekingese puppies coped?



Last night supper another new experiment.  Sweet Spicy Fried Chicken and Fried Rice Noodles.  Fantastic combination of flavors and spices.

On the stove, right now, a pot of black beans and a homemade chicken soup/stew concoction. Maybe tonight’s supper? And another question – When did I fall asleep and the reality of not working on a National Holiday was thrown out the window? Just curious.

Episode 9, The Newsroom – The Republican Presidential candidates’ debate and will you love me tomorrow? Verdad?  Season 2 begins on HBO in 10 days.


The inner top to Tampa Kaleidoscope quilt is just about completed. The current dimensions are 62” by 88”. Have to decide which is width and which is length. Sea Foam afghan is now at 48” wide and 19” long. Working on the quilting designs for The Amulet and Blumish II. Also drafting the specs for The Bird Cage, or maybe The Bird House. Follow our updates at Quilts SB and Afghans SB.

Be safe, be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 211 – Jim’s Trek – 20.7 Miles – Somewhere in Washington on My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

I’m a wee bit late with my Trek posting this morning. After I completed 20.7 miles on my Schwinn 150 I had to hightail it out of the house to meet a couple of appointments and run a couple of errands. But I still finished my daily regime. And all my vitals are clocking in at the normal ranges.

Today I am located, headed north on WA-231 N. I am somewhere between Titchenal/Fairview Farm and Naff/Magnusum Roads. As you can see it appears to be somewhere in farmland.

I am not going to understand the virtual part of my Trek today. It appears that the Artificial Intelligence of the Google Mapping software has decided to change its mind… or should I venture to think that my PC has reconfigured the remaining 300+ miles of my Trek. Yesterday I was headed in one direction, southwesterly, and today it is directing me in a northwesterly direction. This sort of reminds me of the days of a navigator while I was driving, when I first got GPS, and the computerbot w. anted me to drive into the Intercoastal waterway. Anyway from where I begin my Trek on my Schwinn 150 today is approximately 313 miles from my final destination. Let the countdown begin.

Episode 8, The Blackout Part I of The Newsroom’s original air date was 12 August 2012. Okay correct me if I am wrong, but does there not appear to be some definite correlation between this Episode and the current Edward Snowden incident(s). US federal prosecutors filed a sealed complaint on about 14 June 2013 charging Snowden, and it was made public June 21. And you can see where my thoughts and questions are leaning… 12 August 2012 versus 21 June 2013. Huh?

Last night’s supper I experimented – Baked Stuffed green peppers with ground turkey and chorizo in a spicy roasted tomato sauce…and topped with cheese, and an olive salad of baby greens, tomatoes, red onion, and celery.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 210 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles – On Interstate 90 West Somewhere in the State of Washington

Good Day,

Reality check: 20.5 miles on my Schwinn 150, Tampa. Temperature 77°F, overcast sort-of, humid, hot. Virtuality check: Headed southwest on 1-90 W toward Exit 257. I am located west of Cheney, Washington. Temperature 64°F and partly cloudy. I now have 251 more miles to cycle to my next Interlake address goal.

Blue line are my miles per day on my Schwinn 150.  Red line my reducing belly measurements.

Just wondering if Edward Snowden is now trying to duplicate Tom Hanks’ role in The Terminal of Mehran Karimi Nasseri who was stuck in the international terminal of the Paris airport for 18 years. Mr. Snowden certainly has sent out a lot of letters and faxes to a number of countries seeking asylum.

Might be my age, 61 ½, but I have been thinking of what do I need to do with the rest of my life. Am I looking at a new phase? A new something to do? I have been successful thus far, successful in my own eyes and in my mind. I’m looking for something new, something different. This may come at the moment that I am reaching the end of my Trek, something I set my mind to do, and thus far I have succeeded. I have a great relationship. I have a fantastic son, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and a tremendous grandson. I succeeded in my educations and in my employments. I surpassed the medical prognosis that I may have only five years, and that was about 25 years ago. I survived an incapacitating car accident. I learned some new hobby skills. I love to cook. I love to read. I am enamored at playing the piano. I need to do a lot more. I love to write. It is time to find a new star.

Quoting a 2012 article from The Guardian written by Homa Khaleeli, How to Change Your Live at 60.

“It's a fabulous time to change things, though. It's like a second chance, a new beginning. You are just like someone starting out in their 20s. You get employers who think younger people will be more enthusiastic and find challenges easier. But older people are often looking for something new to do and want a new challenge.”

What’s next? I’m trying to make Stuffed Bell Peppers à la Mexicana for supper.


Episode 7, The Newsroom – 5/1. Just watching the show I still question myself as to why I did not. Or the question may be should be “Why not?”

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