#47

This is one rite of passage I didn't want to add.

One Less Bike

5 minutes. From the time I put Bridget out the back to the time I left through the front to leave for work. That's how long it took for her to disappear. My timing could not have been worse I guess. The 5 minutes she was out there was the same 5 minutes that somebody who needed a bike more than I did this morning happened by.

Timekeeping Blitz

Today was the last of 4 straight days working the clock. 7 games Friday, 6 more on Saturday, and 2 both Sunday and tonight. Friday was long and cold at First Nations Arena with help due to the distance of penalty doors. Saturday was tension filled with 2 games going to shootouts and the last going into 4 on 4 overtime. Sunday was pair of blowout peewee games and tonight some ho-hum novice games. Wednesday night I'll do my last 2 games of the season. Going to miss it, and the extra income. And I'm proud to say I had no major blunders through 17 games this weekend. Funny, I really missed the tension of the tournament games during the last few.

Work today was spent with another large shop job and I'm achy all over. One more full day then I'm off through Easter, hopefully I can wrap up most of the big job tomorrow. Small ones keep coming in and pulling me off the big bands, makes it tough to keep everything running and still trying to be off 3 days a week.

Heading in the Wrong Direction

Since December I had been going to meetings as part of one of the committees working to improve Active Transportation in Thunder Bay. At the last meeting I attended it was suggested that to launch the bike lane on Court Street a street party be held. The street would be closed off to cars and people could try out the new bike lanes, the mayor and other dignitaries would take a spin to attract attention to the fact that the lanes are here. I suggested that the party be held on Court St. rather than the suggested Bay St. since it is Court St. that will see parking losses etc. to allow the lanes. Well I got an email today stating that the 'mission plan' includes the party on Bay St. All of this for a bike lane that will take you from Boulevard lake to the Moose Hall and then like most of our paved walking/bike paths leaves you with no recourse but to turn around and go back. There is no plan to connect or extend. It seems to me to be a bone thrown to the cycling crowd. Once the businesses on Court notice that few are using the lanes, they'll take a stand and the lanes will be gone. No one will use them because they don't get you from A to B. Bike lanes are meant for commuting not joy riding. I think my days on the committee are numbered.

I'm feeling a bit better about myself as I haven't strayed too far from eating right and riding almost every day. A long road back but at least a few steps have been taken.

This Is It, I Hope

I was stunned when I went looking for a pair of shorts early this week. I found two things, the shorts and the fact that I couldn't get my fat butt into them. That was the turning point I hope. I just can't figure out what's been going on in my head. Lying in bed I would think, no more, I just can't keep eating like I have been. And the next day I'd do it all over again. Wednesday I just stopped, and haven't eaten anything but small meals since. The cravings just seem to be gone. I'm just hoping they stay gone. More time on the bikes will help. I've been out every day this week, made my first ride out to Mission Marsh on Wednesday (no deer sightings, strange). I'm not worrying about logging every km, I'm just going to enjoy riding. I'm seriously thinking about joining the cycling club and at least having some company to pedal with on occasion. They start up at the end of the month so I'll have to make up my mind soon.

Work is about the same, quiet business-wise but busy for me. We had another big job come in from a lake boat that is going to take hours, not my favourite but we can't be choosy. The schedule is all over the place but at least if the weather continues to improve (he said as the snow starts falling) I can get out and take advantage.

I'm no longer the president of the East End Little League. I finally told them I'd had enough. I'll keep doing the books and some computer work, that or they slip back into the dark ages, but I don't mind that end at all.

Brandyn has been over a few mornings this week. He and Sal were playing tic-tac-toe. "If I go there, you'll go there, if I go here you'll go there. Why are you making this so difficult?" He comes up with some good ones. I can honestly say I haven't run into many kids with the manners he has. He's all geared up for t-ball.

Feeling It

I haven't felt too good about myself for a while now. Not exercising anywhere near enough, eating too much, putting on weight, knowing it and not doing much about it. After dim sum with Jen and Curtis, some groceries and a Shoppers stop I went for a ride. It was about 11 degrees and gorgeous. The little kid 2 doors down was out without a shirt. I pumped up the Continentals, adjusted the front brake on Molly and put her outside. I changed and was on my way, looking for dry pavement. I headed west to Rosslyn then up 130 to Oliver, down Golf Links and home. Just under 40km. Rosslyn Road on an old steel frame is pure torture. Molly's gearing is low. Getting her moving is tough and climbing any sort of hill is a chore. But once you get her moving she flies. Quietly. And she seems to roll forever. I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow but right now feels pretty good.

Another One in the Books

The Northwood playoffs wrapped up this afternoon and what an afternoon. The 'Best of the Rest' game saw a 3-1 final in a closely contested battle, but nothing like the Championship game. Scoreless through 3 periods. Our overtime sees each age group get one shift and then it's sudden death after that. The eventual winners score in the second shift before sudden death. A rare penalty probably saved a goal for the winners. As the penalty was being served a goal is scored to tie the game with 3 seconds left before the man advantage ends. In the sixth period a player who I can't remember ever even having a shot scores with 17 seconds left in his shift. It was a wild scene. The lights in the Gardens dimmed in one end during the fifth period. The parents were screaming and people who were coming in for the junior game after were getting into it. We've had OT before but nothing like this. I'm just thankful that it was a clean goal, nothing to argue about. Lots of tears in the losing dressing room but all of the kids have experienced the wildest finish in Northwood history.

I was looking over the Best of the Rest trophy as this will be the end of its use, 20 years. The first winner in 1990-91 was the Beavers, the team Mike played for in his first year of hockey. I can't say I'm sorry to see that old piece of hardware retired. The damn thing is huge and a real pain to lug around or store.