CAL, Author at SpokEasy - Page 23 of 130

Stiff!

Stiff! 😬 My arm feels stiff today. I guess that’s normal, considering that the weather has become much cooler. And the wind feels cutting. It wouldn’t be fun if I were riding on the levee! When I can finally start riding again, I’m sure to have stiff legs for a while. Stiff glutes, too. I remember that from my early days on two wheels. Speaking of cutting, I started for the local Supercuts® shortly before 9:00 am; and it felt so cold that I went back indoors! The haircut can wait until later this week; I’ve got four appointments over the next two days. Tomorrow will be a triple header — I have appointments for otolaryngology; audiology; and ophthalmology all in the same day! I’m glad they’re all at the same facility. The next day I have physical therapy again. Triple Header 👤 👤 👤 That triple header, though, will mean hanging around for several hours between the two morning appointments, and the one in mid-afternoon. I must check for places where I can get some lunch; cafeterias in medical centers are typically quite expensive. Coming home for lunch would be pushing it time-wise; and I don’t want to drag a lunch cooler with me. That’s too cumbersome! Tomorrow the temperature will be colder than it was today; but at least the wind is dying down. Maybe I can take public transit; I’m tired of costly taxis. And I think I saw an indoor walking route last time I was at that particular facility. I can go walking; and so what if it gives me stiff legs! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Nosedive

BACK ISSUES, Outdoors / CAL

Nosedive ⬇️ We’re set for a nosedive in temperature overnight. The wind will be strong, too — so maybe it’s just as well that I won’t be trying to ride tomorrow. Wind 15 mph; with gusts twice as strong! That’s a chill factor of 34 degrees when it’s not gusting. At least the temperatures will be more seasonal for a day or two. Tomorrow night is supposed to be colder than tonight; but after that it will warm up again. See-Saw 🔄 So here we go again with this crazy see-saw. It happens every year. One night the temperature takes a nosedive; and one or two nights later it doesn’t fall below 60 degrees. In a way it’s easier during Summer, when we can be sure of one thing: it will be hot. We’ve also got something called a Red Flag warning for tomorrow. It’s been very dry, and that plus high winds means an increased fire risk; so beware of burning things outdoors. I’m glad I don’t live in the woods! Cold weather means that my nose will drive me crazy. That’s especially annoying when I’m riding; just try to use a handkerchief while pedaling. Well, I can hear that the wind has gotten much stronger in the last half-hour. So I’m glad I’m indoors. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Last Fling

BACK ISSUES, Outdoors / CAL

Last Fling? 🎉 Is Summer having a last fling? So far, we’ve had little weather that really felt like Fall; and today it got into the 80s. But tomorrow night it’s supposed to drop to 43 degrees. For me, that’s cold! Fall to me means maple syrup. I love maple, but I try to use it sparingly. It’s not cheap; and I have to keep the prediabetes in mind! When I can ride again, I’ll start burning more calories; and my appetite (and my sweet tooth!) might be easier to control. Or at least I can get my accustomed exercise; and I hope our Winter weather won’t be too frigid. Winter Weather 🥶 ❄️ How much Winter weather will we get this season? Will it snow again; or will this be a Wnter-that-isn’t? Perhaps Summer isn’t having a last fling, after all! I’m glad chilly days waited until I was out of that splint. I don’t know how I could have dressed warmly enough with that contraption in the way; it was quite bulky, and I don’t have enough windbreakers with sleeves that could fit over it. Winter weather might still bring problems, such as the surgical scar being sensitive to cold. I’ve also heard about injured joints flaring up with weather changes. All I can do is see what Winter weather brings. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Carry On

BACK ISSUES, Outdoors, Personal Care / CAL

Carry On 📦 Today at physical therapy, I got to carry on. The therapist had me do a few exercises with small weights; but he says not to try them at home yet. Testing my strength, maybe? But I can’t yet carry a bicycle case, of course. Not even with my arm unweighted. Maybe my elbow isn’t sufficiently recovered to do the weight exercises daily; so if I want to carry on, I’ll have to use a backpack! At least my walking pace seems to have recovered; and that’s something. I seemed sluggish for weeks. Faster walking keeps me warmer; and I’ll need that soon. Per the forecast, the temperature will fall to the lower 40s Sunday night; so I’ve got to get the jacket ready. Get the Jacket Ready 🥶 Yep, get the jacket ready. Not only is it expected to get cold; the forecast is for some stiff wind. It’s not my favorite thing to carry on a bike ride in a headwind; so I think a part of me will actually be relieved that I’m not riding! When I can finally ride again, I’m going to start with rides in the park. It might be better to stay off the levee for a while; especially if the wind is strong! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Unweighted

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Unweighted 🏋🏻 What a relief it is to have my arm unweighted! Today I was freed from that nuisance of a splint; and I was so glad that I went off the rails and devoured a pint of ice cream. The doctor says to keep working at arm extension. Tomorrow I have a physical therapy session; and I expect the therapist will tell me the same thing. Being unweighted from the splint means I don’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain, and possibly getting the splint wet. Our weather has been dry; and I was grateful for that, because I needed it. But we really need some precipitation. So now it may rain. Now It May Rain 💦 Now it may rain; not that I’d really like getting caught in it. But now it doesn’t matter as much if I get wet. Being unweighted from the split, unfortunately, doesn’t mean that I can jump back on the bike yet. That might take another six weeks. 🙄 I have to keep working to improve the elbow’s extension; and my arm has lost a good bit of what strength that it had. I messaged the orthopedic surgeon to ask when I may start using my left arm to lift small weights; I forgot to ask about it this morning. One of the splint’s bands was at the wrist, limiting my hand’s mobility. With that constriction gone, it’s far easier to use both hands; which is a major relief. Shedding the splint has unweighted me in more ways than one. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Reach Out

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Personal Care / CAL

Reach Out 🫱🏼 I can reach out more now! Today the physical therapist extended the splint; and I can extend my arm farther. I’m looking forward to being rid of that thing. Even though I can reach out more, using my left hand is awkward. My arm gets tired quickly because the splint is not weightless. For that reason, I’ve developed the habit of keeping my elbow flexed and the arm close to my body. Thank goodness I’m no longer worried about how I’ll manage if a hurricane heads our way. Evacuation would be enough of a hassle even if I didn’t have an arm out of commission! I just hope we don’t get a late-season storm. Late Season 🍁 A late season hurricane isn’t impossible; but the tropics are expected to remain quiet during the coming week. So we can relax for a bit! And I’m waiting to be able to ride again. How well must I be able to reach out before I’m able to manage the steering? I don’t ride with my arms fully extended; the elbows are supposed to have some bend in them. If your arms are straight and rigid on the bike, steering will be a lot harder; and you also will have a harder time if you hit a bumpy patch in the road. When I’m out of the splint, I have to get back some arm strength, too; but I don’t know how soon I may add a bit of weight to my therapy exercises. The scar area still doesn’t take well to weight! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Clocks Back

BACK ISSUES, Food / CAL

Clocks Back ⏰ This past wekend was time to set the clocks back! I, for one, am glad to return to Standard Time. With Daylight Time it stays light too late in the evening; and mornings don’t look look like morning! When it’s time to set the clocks back, I do it the lazy way. I remove the batteries from the clocks; and set the kitchen timer for one hour. When it rings, it’s time to put the batteries back. The return to Standard Time means an extra hour to sleep; not that this is a big deal for me now. I don’t have to go to work; and I’m not ready to resume riding yet. I don’t seem to be ready for the kitchen just yet, either. Kitchen 🧑🏼‍🍳 I need to get back to the kitchen; my diet since the accident has not been good! I’m tired of microwave meals; but the scar at my left elbow still feels the strain when I pinch-hold things — as when chopping zucchini. I don’t even have to be pinching hard. Fortunately I can use some of my canned goods, because I have a I have a battery-powered can opener. I set it atop the can; press the button; and it goes around the can. This can opener removes the top of the can rather than cutting off the lid; so there are no sharp edges. But no pull-top cans just yet! Unfortunately, cooking often means a pot to wash; and if it’s a big pot, I can hardly avoid some use of my left hand. My elbow’s not ready for that. Setting the clocks back hasn’t changed much; whether in the kitchen or elsewhere. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Spooked

BACK ISSUES / CAL

Spooked 👻 Don’t get spooked; but today is Hallowe’en! A good day for chocolate; not that I think there’s not a good day for chocolate! This morning I had go to physical therapy; and many of the therapists were wearing onesies costumes. I saw two dalmatians; a dragon; and more. I myself wore my black cat pin. But I didn’t see any ghost costumes. Maybe they thought people would get spooked? My elbow’s extension is better; and the therapist adjusted my splint for greater movement. I hope I can toss it before long. And all of a sudden I’m walking faster, which is great. It makes me feel more normal. Normal 🙄 But what, exactly, is “normal”? We avid cyclists seem perfectly normal to each other; but to non-riders we might seem crazy — going for rides in heat; cold; and even rain. This evening I’m going to stay home and lay low. I don’t feel comfortable opening my door to a stream of strangers; trick-or-treat isn’t what it was when I was a child. Maybe I’ve been spooked? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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October!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors / CAL

October! 🎃 I wonder what Minnesota looks like in late October! Today really feels like October — now that October is near its end. It was only 59 degrees this morning; and the wind was strong enough that there was a wind advisory. Sometimes I reflect on those days of RAGBRAI; and the towns along the route. Is Brown Park coated in frost now? Is the photo-op tractor in Fairbank getting snowed on? Come to think of it, I suppose it’s been moved into a barn or garage. Or maybe covered by tarpaulins. Keep Warm ♨️ So now I’ve got to keep warm. It won’t be quite cold enough for hand warmers tomorrow; but 53 degrees is pretty darned chilly as far as I’m concerned. I want to go for a walk in the morning. How do I keep warm when that splint makes sleeves a problem? Maybe wear an arm warmer under the splint; and leave the arm inside the jacket? I’ll definitely need a head cover! The older I get, the more sensitive to cold my noggin becomes. Cooking would help keep my kitchen warm; but this activity is still a problem. I don’t seem quite ready for heavy-duty vegetable chopping; and the splint weighs down my arm. I hope I’m back up to it soon! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Cartwheel?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling / CAL

Cartwheel?🤸🏼 Cartwheel? This looks like the remains of a very decrepit wheelbarrow; and it could use some wheel lights to brighten it up. It looks like Hurricane Melissa is going to do a cartwheel. Her direction has changed to WNW; and she’s expected to veer towards the Northeast. Melissa has become a monster; I don’t know how big she is, but any Cat 5 storm is a monster. On top of that, Melissa is a slowpoke, which gives her more time to intensify. I’m glad we’re out of reach of that hurricane! Out of Reach 🤜🏼 Yes, we’re out of reach of Melissa — for now. But over the last few days, her behavior has been erratic; and I, for one, don’t trust her to take the predicted path. Riding is still out of reach for me. It’s getting very tiresome. How long will it be before my arm can extend itself properly; and how quickly will it regain strength? When I can get back on the bike, will the action of holding the handlebars/steering prove good therapy? I’ve got to ask the therapist about that. Would kitchen work, i.e. chopping veggies, be good rherapy? Last time I tried it, it still made my left elbow ache; and strained the incision. But I’m getting weary of microwave meals! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional. FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Author name: CAL