Simple?

Today's weigh in was another shocker, 242. My last day at Petrie's before the Quest to the West, as I'm dubbing it, and an adventurous one it was. I started out with a pink girls bike complete with tassels on the bars, trued the wheels and set up the brakes, cake. Next a simple flat repair, simple my a**. First of all there was lots of pressure in the tire which is odd if it's flat. I took the wheel out of the frame and the shear weight of it told me it would be full of anti-flat compound, a slimy goo that is supposed to seal small leaks. I pressed on the valve...nothing. So I got out my trusty knife and cut off the valve as I could not get at the tube with the pressure still in it. A sticky, runny liquid like beige latex paint oozed out. I got over a garbage can and let it run. It stopped and I poked it with the knife and a 1 inch high fountain formed as the contents drained. Then it blew. Good thing I was wearing my glasses. So the 'simple' 10 minute flat repair became a 45 minute clean up. Later on I put together a new bike, trued another wheel, boxed a bike for shipping, swept up and called it a day as things had ground to a halt.

I grabbed a bike rack for the Quest to the West as Mike and Mel have decided to make the trip to BC so Eowyn will have somewhere to ride. It hold 3 bikes so Sal and I will be able to take both of our bikes a little further from the house for a ride.

One Week To Go

I can't believe it's been so long since last posting. Putting up meals everyday got to be a chore. My weight has gone up a couple then down four over the last two Mondays so I'm definitely on the rollercoaster, at 246 this week. We leave on our western adventure next Thursday and are really looking forward to getting away. Hopefully the Trans-Canada is above water and the wet weather moves on.

I received e-mail from Conquer Cancer last week after 4100+ riders collected more than $16 million. I was tempted to jump right on it and sign up but haven't yet. Still might but I'm more nervous about the financial end of fundraising and travel than the actual ride. I'll make up my mind soon, or the spots will be gone.

For father's day Sal and Jen teamed up and gave me a Garmin hand held. I checked out bike mounts and they make one but no stock anywhere. So I went with a new smart phone, Sony Experia X10. It's built on Google's Android platform and does everything from wi-fi to gmail, has an 8mpixel camera, came with 16gig memory card and a ton of things to learn. It multitasks (right now I'm listening to my fav jazz album -Wynton Marsalis, Standard Time Vol. 2) and uploading the pix of a gaggle I rode over on Tuesday). Once Rogers and TBaytel get their stuff together it will be the best of both.

The geese were passing under the bridge on Balmoral as I was going over. There were two huge groups of gosslings and only a few adults. They take over the paths as the males will make hissing charges at anyone passing near. Not to mention the land mines they leave behind.

Fresh Pasta Anyone?

I sort of lost track of my eating since last week but was surprised on Monday to see another 3 lbs. gone. I'm not going to question it, seems when I think I've done things right I can still gain and if I let go I can still lose. Logic and dieting are never really compatible.

I'm in as secretary for Lakehead Minor for another 2 year term. Everyone on the executive is back so it should be another uneventful couple of years. I really enjoy working with the rest of the executive and most of the problems that nagged the league for years have been solved.

Less than a month before we head west and I'm starting to think about it more and more. Spending some time with Mike and Mel, Kevin and Susan on their turf will be great and I can't wait to get to the mountains.

When I got home from Petrie's tonight there was a pot of sauce on the oven so I made my first batch of fresh pasta. It's tricky to get the mix right but I hope the half hour and the effort are worth it.

Not Red Yet

Sal's dad asked Curtis and I to a Liberal fundraising dinner tonight. You sure don't get much for $200 a plate these days. It was good to get out with Lee and Curtis, saw lots of people I know (mostly from hockey) and the meal was pretty good.

Another day at Petrie's. Things are getting better as I'm starting to build on fixes that I've done and can now do solo. The gang is still great to work with, dysfunctional at times but fun to be around.

Week 5/4
toast, banana, 3 coffee, burger, rhubarb cake, salad, pasta, prime rib, veggies, 1 beer, caesar, fruit & ice cream
Week 5/3
toast, banana, coffee, past salad, pot roast wrap

Undecided

I gained 2 back last week, not sure how, but have to push a bit more to keep going the other way.
Jen and Curtis' shag did very well.
Now that I can, I can't decide on a bike, bouncing all over the place. Tonight I'm thinking a single speed something. Last night it was the Townie, took it for a ride and it was really a cool one. Took Jill out tonight and found scratches on the fork and was sure I could hear spokes pinging.

Week 5/2
muffin, banana, coffee, pasta salad twice, fries, muffin, coffee
Week 5/1 250
toast, banana, 2 coffee, donut/muffin, sausage, pasta salad, water, strawberries