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Short
Stories |
Restaurants |
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February 2008 |
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February 29, 2008 Strange Days Strange Weather!
Not really! This is a typical pattern for the month of February (Today is the
leap year). The weather man claimed rain all day today and I let that
influence my riding decision. Of course I regret not riding now! Maybe it is
still to come. This week has been
sort of awkward and out of rhythm. I have worked different hours and have been
busier than usual so it is likely for the best that have taken a break.
Hopefully things will get back in routine (normal is a bad choice of words)
by next week. |
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To
appreciate the beauty of a snow flake, it is necessary to stand out in the
cold |
February 27, 2008 Winter Wonderland Now that spring is
around the corner we are going to catch up on snow. I had every intention of
riding this morning in the snow just so I could say I did it but as luck
would have it, I was called and asked to be in early because a co-worker is
out sick. Scrambling to get here as it was, riding would have made for a bad
day. I am glad I did my
grocery shopping on Sunday because that is the last thing I want to do when
it is snowing. On the news last night, a man in Crossville described the
locals in the grocery store as a ‘pack of wolves’ and I thought that there is
no more accurate a way of putting it. In the News |
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Experience
is the name given to past mistakes. |
February 25, 2008 Oops! Believe it or not,
they are calling for snow by mid-week. I am skeptical and will anticipate
riding until the snow is falling. Riding in the snow might even be fun but
the way people around here panic at the site of snow, I my not want to be on
the road. Commuting by bike
means that there is a matter of organization involved. One must be sure and bring
everything that is needed to fit the Dress code in their profession and if
necessary all the hygienic needs to prepare. In the past, I have forgotten my
brush and even conditioner for my hair but these items are no big deal.
Today, however; I walked out with out the appropriate shoes for work. Usually
these stay at my desk because I change as I am leaving but Friday that wasn’t
the case. To make matters worse, my shoes are white so there is no faking it.
I will get it right tomorrow! I thought of a few
more of my favorite books: By Reason of
Insanity Shane Stephens The Winged
Serpent Margot Astrov Undaunted
Courage Stephen E. Ambrose On the Web Food Claims: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/foodlabel/nutrient-content-claims.jsp Kids Health http://www.revolutionhealth.com/healthy-living/mom-central/?s_kwcid=kid%20health|867359094 In the New Ralph Nader http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/24/nader.politics/index.html Fires: Warehouse http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=54923 Dorm http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=54921 |
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If
only we’d stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time Edith
Wharton |
February 22, 2008 Bummer Remembered I would like to say
that I didn’t ride due to the rain but that would be a lie! I over slept this
morning: I assume because I stayed up later than usual. The Rain was a
convenient justification! I ordered a
replacement for the lost Here are some of
the pictures from the LeConte Hike from Saturday:
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One problem with gazing too
frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has
run out on us
Michael Cibenko
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February 21, 2008 Lunar Eclipse Did anyone catch
the Lunar Eclipse last night? I remember around 11:15 P.M. and caught the end
of it.
Interesting Reads WE NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS GEORGE W. BUSH,
et al., PETITIONERS v. ALBERT GORE, Jr., et al. Voting
Rights in the United States |
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Direction
is more important than speed. We are so busy looking at our speedometers that
we forget the milestone
Unknown
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February 20, 2008 Another Milestone I have officially
lost 40 Pounds putting me at 185. I am reaching my goal ever so slowly. The good news
followed a rough start. Monday the luggage rack on my bike broke about half
way home. I was able to rig the thing up just enough to make it home. Not
having made the repair I rode the back up bike. This required me to carry a
book bag with all my stuff in it. Fortunately, my gear has slimmed down due
to having a locker assigned to me at the YMCA allowing me to leave toiletries
there. Now the back up
bike itself should not instill images of negativity because it is actually
the better bike. To turn such a fine piece of equipment into a commute bike
would be an insult to its existence. Check it out http://www.voodoocycles.net/07_hoodoo.htm There are some
differences between mine and that one but you get the idea. Busy week so I
probably won’t make the necessary repairs until the weekend. |
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If
most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more
ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies... It would be a sad
situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it.
Albert Einstein |
February 19, 2008 Bummer So I lost the In the News http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome This has been a
topic that keeps coming up. I haven’t had the opportunity to get all the
details but understand the company is being charged with cruelty to animals.
These charges are due to the animals being forced to stand and move about
despite illness making them terribly weak. These sick animals are being
herded into the slaughter house to be made into hamburger for the Omnivorous
Human population. Surprise! If you
eat meat, you may have eaten these sick cows. Unfortunately, this is not
uncommon practice. I am not sure what sparked the outcry in this specific
scenario because no one has reported getting sick that I have seen reported.
I will be watching this as more details come to light. Glad I gave it up! |
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Life
seems but a quick succession of busy nothings. Jane Austen |
February 18, 2008 Been
Busy It has been an exciting
Monday so I haven’t had a chance to write until now. Hike Leconte
on Saturday via President’s day kept
traffic light today making a pleasant read more pleasant. I will post pictures of the
hike tomorrow because I somehow don’t have them with me. |
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In looking for my mind, I discovered
that it seems to be in many different places. Sometimes it is drinking a
glass of water, remembering swimming in the summer, feeling the breeze. In this
contemplation I observed that the self is more elusive than I thought Sakyong
Mipham |
February 15, 2008 Excited to Ride It was a little chilly this morning but I finally got to
ride today! I have managed to solidify the routine enough at this point that
I am up, ready and out the door in enough time that I could double the
distance and still make a shower and work on time. Come Spring that is the
plan. Having been more sedentary this week and reading ‘Total
Nutrition,’ I decided to start tracking my caloric intake. This of
course can be very difficult when eating out. This site allows for
estimating Restaurant food: http://www.calorieking.com/ I have written before about the routine I have developed
concerning Diet, so I spare the intricate details now. I must add here
that I have given up meat completely. As a vegetarian, one gets lots of questions: Do you eat chicken? Do you eat fish? These are meats! The next question asked is always, ‘Where do you get your
protein?’ Protein is readily available in most vegetables:
Broccoli, cauliflower and many others. Beans are packed with protein and fiber
making them especially good. I drink milk (and milk products) which is a
reasonable source as well and also provides a reasonable amount of necessary fats.
The key is that I have to eat variety and lots of it. This can prove
challenging in restaurants so I have started eating more at home and
carrying lunch to work which has the added bonus of saving money. The ironic thing is that given the Daily Recommended
intake of protein is 50 grams. Yesterday I have 85.4 grams of protein from
vegetable sources (Minus 7.1 grams from an egg). The next concern I had was Vitamin B12. B12 is primarily
found in meat products! The cold cereals that I eat have been fortified
with B12 and I take a multivitamin. The most interesting thing I have found is how easy it is
to get ‘fats’ from non-meat food. I am meeting the DRI without meat
products: It is no wander I had become over weight. I think I could have
been equally successful losing the weight using the ‘Meat Moderation’
method that I was using, but continuing meat products would have kept me ad
double the fat and protein intake that I am at now. Protein, Fat, and B12 leave me needing to touch base with
Carbohydrates. This is no problem. Fruit, Vegetables, bread and about
anything else you eat contains some carbs. I get
plenty! The thing most people are neglecting to realize that Carbs are Sugar
and Fiber. Most of us get plenty of sugar (too much) and lack fiber. Sugar in the form of fruits I
could still get less of but I think the amount of fiber in my diet likely
counters the sugar. I have probably taken my dietary analysis to an obsessive
level, but it has been interesting. Self Reflection leads to self
realization! Don’t worry mom! If you cook it, I will eat it but with
self-discipline and in moderation. Dialog from "Everything is Illuminated (2005)
staring Elijah Wood Jonathan: I'm a vegetarian. Alex: You're a what? Jonathan: I don't eat meat. Alex: How can you not eat meat? Jonathan: I just don't. Alex: [to Grandfather, in Russian] He says he does not
eat meat. Grandfather: [to Alex, in Russian] What? Alex: No meat? Jonathan: No meat. Alex: Steak? Jonathan: No... Alex: Chickens! Jonathan: No... Alex: And what about the sausage? Jonathan: No, no sausage, no meat! Alex: [to Grandfather, in Russian] He says he does not
eat any meat. Grandfather: [to Alex, in Russian] Not even sausage? Alex: [to Grandfather, in Russian] I know! Grandfather: [to Alex, in Russian] What is wrong with
him? Alex: What is wrong with you? Jonathan: Nothing, I just don't eat meat! |
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Alone From
childhood's hour I have not been Edgar
Allen Poe |
February 14, 2008 Happy Day! I say Happy Day
because I always hope that everyone has a happy day and don’t need
‘Valentine’s Day’ to be a motivating factor. I find it interesting the way
fads take off and thought I would share a bit of Valentine
History. Here is a book on
the subject of Delusions (Fads): Extraordinary
Delusions and the Madness of Crowds Charles MacKay Ultimately, in my
mind, Valentine’s Day is a way for florists and greeting card companies to
avoid bankruptcy between Christmas and Mother’s Day! The thing I find most
disturbing is the amount of drama caused in some relationships over failure
to provide adequate Valentine Paraphernalia. I guess I am The
Valentine Grinch (When is that movie coming out)! Before the
accusations start, I had a pretty good childhood. My parents were caring and
I was never abused. Maybe that is why I don’t understand Valentine’s day
because I didn’t need the material tokens of love. Enough of that!
Hope everyone has a Happy Day! |
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The
best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do
him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back. Abigail
Van Buren |
No Luck Half
way through the week and still no riding! The rains should be moved out by
Friday so maybe I will atlest get one in on Friday.
Not to worry, I always find means of filling the time! When a ride is out of
the question, I still do yoga. It also gives me the opportunity to do a
little more reading. I was
asked yesterday: How do I find time to read all the books that I read? In
short, I don’t watch TV very often. Don’t get me wrong, I have a couple of
shows I watch (Heroes and Journey Man) but they are between seasons. I also
watch DVDs occasionally but ultimately, I read instead. According to the South Dakota Department of Health, here are some averages for the amount of TV Americans watch:- 4 hours per day for young children.- Slightly less for older children.- 29 hours per week for an adult male.- 34 hours per week for an adult female.South Dakota Department of Health http://www.state.sd.us/doh/Nutrition/TV.pdf Also I keep a book in my book bag so that
when I get somewhere and am waiting, I can read then and not waste the time
by just waiting. There is also usually a book at my desk so that I can carry
it out to lunch when I am eating alone. Reading is like any other exercise, you
get better with practice and can rusty when you don’t do it. I sometimes get
in a lull and read fewer books, but then there is the internet and magazines.
You can see some of my favorite links on the Links Page of the website. Some
of the magazines I read are: Yoga Journal, Men’s Health, Time (though it
seems to be building bias), and US New and World Report. These all have some
articles available on-line. National Geographic is probably my all time
Favorite magazine but I let my subscription expire. More TV
Statistics http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-09-21-homes-tv_x.htm http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health.html Health
Articles: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/foodlabel/nutrient-content-claims.jsp |
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You cannot achieve environmental security and human
development without addressing the basic issues of health and nutrition.
Gro H. Brundtland |
February 12, 2008 Man of
Many Books I never leave a book unfinished but I
have a hard time completing one without starting another. So while reading The
Omnivore’s Delimma I picked up The
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Total Nutrition and have read most it. If you are like me, all the fad diets and
nutritional products have overwhelmed you and makes it seem like a lot of
work to be healthy. I will not say that TCIGT Total Nutrition is a god
among nutrition books, but it is full of good information in plain English. I
wish I had read it years go. Click
to read more about the Book. I have been left wanting more info on
Vitamin’s and Mineral’s so I will also be reading the
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vitamin’s and Mineral. To bad I can’t get college credit for all
this! Have you been to the newly renovated wing
of the Downtown Y (Opened Yesterday)? What do you think about it? |
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Time
for the weather report. It's cold out folks. Bonecrushing
cold. The kind of cold which will wrench the spirit out of a young man, or
forge it into steel. Diane Frolov
and Andrew Schneider |
February 11, 2008 Brisk
Baby! I must admit, it is too cold for me! I
got up and got ready for the ride even after checking the weather. Once I
walked outside, I hastily returned to the warmth of the house and changed
into work attire. Walking up from the care, my hands got
numb. The weather Channel said 22 Degrees feels like 14! Saturday, I got out for a ride and hit
some new Roads or sections of old roads I hadn’t ridden before. Road Report: Ø
Ø
Ø
I
discovered the Greenway that runs through West View Elementary to Ø
Galaher View and Ø
Vonasdale has good
Sidewalks The Total Trip was around 16 miles and
was cut short by the decision to have Cici’s Pizza:
it was a slow ride home with a belly full of pizza. |
