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Queue Up

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Queue up, as they say in Britain. Or \”stand snake\”, the way they do in Germany. However you want to say it, we always hope that standing in line won\’t take up too much time. Even so, sometimes I wish my blog queue were longer. I\’ll suddenly notice that I have posts lined up for only another day or two. Then I\’ll be frantically busy composing more blogs. This is particularly trying at those times when I can\’t seem to think of anything to write about! It\’s not only playwrights who suffer from writer\’s block. By the way, how do cyclists queue up? Form a pace line? The difference is that, when people queue up, they\’re generally standing still; or at least, moving slowly. When I\’m out riding, a pace line can whiz past me at breathtaking speed. That\’s not what I call standing still! Waiting in line has been a different ball game the last two months or so. In stores, I see spots marked on the floor where customers are asked to stand while waiting to get to check-out. I guess we\’ll soon be seeing something similar for restaurants that are offering only take-out. If I want to get some take-out, I\’d better wear sunblock in case I\’m \”standing snake\” for more than 10 minutes. I love Chinese food, but not enough to get sunburned for it. Some stores, I heard, were even having customers wait in line outside, with only a certain number of them allowed in at one time. I suppose we\’ll have to get used to the idea: queue up!    

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On the Adriatic

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

On the Adriatic Planning a ride on the Adriatic? How about Croatia? A pedal-powered tour (with a bit of assist) along the coast of Dalmatia  offers beautiful views of the sea. There are over 200 sunny days per year. Enjoy fresh seafood; combine bicycling with island-hopping; or explore Dubrovnik. Incidentally, the Dalmatian city of Split is the birthplace of the composer Franz von Suppé. Beautiful Galatea, anyone? For mountain lovers, there are cycling tours in the Dinaric Alps; these, however, require expert fitness level. This mountain range rises to almost 9000 feet in some places, and is one of the most rugged ranges in Europe. If I were crazy enough to try riding there, I might want to get myself an ebike! I can’t say how easy it would be to find English speakers in Croatia. Apparently your chances depend on which region of the country you visit. On top of that, could you find someone familiar with cycling lingo? If your budget is tight; or if you simply enjoy the challenge of penny-pinching, here are some ideas you could try. Go during the off-season; choose accommodations wisely, etcetera. On the whole, Croatia is safe to visit. Try the cuisine. Most important of all, have a good time while pedaling on the Adriatic. 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Off Day

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An off day is not the same thing as a day off. The latter indicates, or at least implies, deliberate planning. The latter — well, it happens to all of us sometimes. We haven\’t planned the day off; but we\’re tired; would rather keep on sleeping; and just aren\’t in the mood for a ride. Like me today.  At 7 am it was overcast. According to the forecast, T-storms were possible from 10 am. That rather worried me. I decided to ride over to the park, and do some laps. Before I had completed the first circuit, it seemed to be getting darker; so I decided to head back home. By the time I got there, the sun was coming out! It\’s very annoying when I make the wrong call like that. It was already in the upper 70s early this morning, so I wore a cycling jersey for the first time this year. I was surprised at how cool my arms felt. We can thank the wind for that. The wind, in fact, is one of the reasons I chose to ride in the park. I didn\’t feel like fighting it for miles on the way home. So here I am, with a couple of extra hours. What shall I do with them? Cooking is out; after making the junk soup yesterday, the freezer is crammed again. There are always blogs to be composed, but sometimes my brain wears out and says, No More. No need to panic, though. We all have an off day sometimes.  

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Trashy

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I got trashy again today, and made another \”junk soup\”. Sometimes that\’s the best way to use up odds and ends. For previous cooking projects, I had used dried black beans, and dried pinto beans; two cups of each. That left me with a half-cup or so of each kind of bean. I had put them all in one bag to save myself a bit of clutter. I wanted to use them up, so last night I put them to soak. This morning I drained them, and then put them in the freezer. Several hours later, I went to work to make the soup. I put the soaked and frozen beans in a pot with some water. Last time I visited the salvage store, I found a small can of matzo balls in chicken broth. I opened the can and added the broth to the pot; I put the matzo balls aside to eat later. While the stuff in the pot was heating up, I chopped celery and red onion and dumped them in. When I made Hoppin\’ John, I had the liquid left over from a 15 ounce can of tomatoes. I froze it for the next soup, and early this morning I took it out to thaw. Into the pot  it went. Then I let the beans, onion, and celery cook while I sliced two small carrots, and diced two small potatoes. I had canned peas in the fridge, and measured out a half cup for the soup. I also had some cooked brown rice in the freezer; another  item for the soup pot. I wanted a variety of veggies in this soup, so I opened cans of sweet corn and green beans. What I didn\’t put in the soup went into the freezer for a future soup pot. Earlier this week I opened a can of Taco Complete, and needed to use up what was left; most of it went into the soup. I don\’t know how good this jumble tastes; I haven\’t tried it yet. I\’m going to freeze most or all of it for later. Even if it isn\’t terrific, I\’ve never laid claim to being a gourmet cook. Besides, trashy cooking can be a lot of fun.

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Fine Kettle of Fish?

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\”A fine kettle of fish\” seems an apt description of the current situation. Everything is in a mess: people losing jobs; the economy doesn\’t look good; social distancing; quarantining. I\’m one of the lucky ones who can still go out and ride, as long as I don\’t ride too close to anybody else. I\’d be in a fine kettle of fish if I couldn\’t ride! By now I would have lost a lot of the strength and conditioning that I\’ve developed over 10.5 years. \”Kettle\” reminds me of the kettlebell weight. I got a small one last June, intending to add some new exercises to my off-bike work. Then, when I got so busy with a major editing job on this site, it fell by the wayside. Now I\’m trying to work it back in. Last night, I used it in a leg-abduction exercise. For several years, I\’ve been doing that move while resting a 5-pound weight on the working thigh. Now I\’m trying it with the kettlebell, which weighs 7.5 pounds. I sure can feel the difference! Yesterday\’s ride seemed like a fine kettle of fish when I was homeward-bound. Perhaps you\’ve guessed it already: a headwind! It was blowing at 14-15 mph before I finished the ride. The clouds looked rather stormy, too, and at one point I thought I smelled rain. I\’m glad it didn\’t start raining; I was still about three miles from home. I might have been in another kettle of fish if it had rained while I was riding home from the supermarket this morning. I\’m not sure why I worry about bread ; loaves of bread are all bagged in plastic, and there was the plastic bag from the checkout as well. The canister of oatmeal I had bought was far more vulnerable! If it had gotten wet, I suppose I could have dried/toasted it in a low-temperature oven, but I\’m lazy. Oh, and as to fish — no, I didn\’t buy fish today.

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Time for Flex Time

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Today it was time for flex time! Yes, working from home has an advantage or two. Last night the forecast was for T-storms; some possibly severe. And in fact, some online messages from co-workers  mentioned that there was a lot of lightning last night. Amazingly, I slept through it all. I know I did, because one of those colleagues lives just a few blocks away from me. Anyway, at 4:45 am it was raining, and there was some lightning. If I had had to go to regular work, I might have braved a ride anyway. But here was the perfect opportunity to give flex time a try. After having some breakfast, I clocked in at the unearthly early hour of 5:45 am. I took my morning break at about the time that I normally clock in. \”Lunchtime\” was at 9:00 am; a departmental zoom meeting was scheduled for 10:00-11:00. I figured I would get too hungry if I waited until after the meeting to eat. Getting through the last hour of work seemed quite a strain; maybe because neither my brain nor my body is used to a schedule like today\’s. I clocked out for the day at 2:15 pm. Then it was ride time at last. The sky was still mostly overcast, and the clouds had a somewhat stormy look. I\’m glad it didn\’t rain, but the wind made the homeward-bound leg of my ride pretty tough. After I was home I checked a weather site; the wind had been 14-15 mph before my ride was finished. I\’m glad I don\’t have to follow a schedule like today\’s on a daily basis. But it\’s good to know that I can, when it\’s time for flex time.

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Catching Extra Zs

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Catching extra Zs happens. You know the scenario: you shut off the alarm clock, and next thing you know it\’s two hours later! It happened to me this morning. Some morning lark I am, huh? I could have gone for a short, easy ride if I had hurried. Short and easy was the plan for today, anyway. But I didn\’t feel like rushing around. I decided to skip the ride, fix breakfast, and work on this blog. For breakfast, I mixed a cupful of cooked brown rice with a half-cup of Taco Complete, and heated it on the stove. I chopped up a half-ounce of Monterrey Jack cheese and stirred it in. A tablespoon of green taco sauce went on top. I don\’t care who declares that Tacos Aren\’t for Breakfast! After all, some people have steak and eggs for breakfast. Why should taco filling be different? Catching extra Zs felt good, and I think I needed it. I do hope, though, that I\’ll be able to ride tomorrow morning. It looks like the weather might not be cooperative. Maybe I can take a quick run to the drug store at lunch time today. It will let me get outdoors and moving. It\’s past 7:00 now, and I have to be thinking of getting ready to start work; so I\’d better cut this short. Incidentally, working from home has this advantage: I can hear the birds singing!  

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Route 66

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Route 66 🛣️ Cycling Route 66 sounds like a chance to visit an earlier era. Explore the small towns along the way; enjoy great food; visit the many historical sites. Route 66, in fact, has become an icon. It plays a major role in Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. It even comes into the entertainment scene. Thinking of the Steinbeck novel, of course, makes me think of Oklahoma. There’s that famous song; but there are cycling trails, too, for roadies and MTB enthusiasts alike. Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area is for you if steep hills with hairpin turns are up your alley. For a multi-purpose trail suited to all levels of ability, try out the Lake Hefner Trail. This one is heavily trafficked; so use caution. Enjoy seeing wildflowers along the way. If you happen to be an angler, perhaps you’d like to bring along the fishing pole. For urban exploration, there’s the Museum commemorating the tragic 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City. Tulsa offers many cycling routes. The name Tall Chief Cove catches my eye thanks to my interest in ballet; and the ballerina Maria Tallchief. If I were to go on a bicycle tour in the Sooner State, I’d rather go across open country. I love to see wide-open spaces. I’d better choose my tour time carefully; Oklahoma is part of the notorious Tornado Alley. I would also need to pay attention to the precise route.  Oklahoma is said to be the windiest state of all. Some parts of the state are mountainous! And, unfortunately, passing through the flat portions might mean plenty of oil wells. PHEW! But, I might spot a scissor-tailed flycatcher, and there would be other birds as well. Or bison. Or, maybe I could just, well, be a tourist and stick to Route 66. 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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Let’s Go Hellenic

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Let’s Go Hellenic Let’s go Hellenic, and take a bicycle tour around Greece! If you enjoy island-hopping, try out Kos. It’s reputed to be more bicycle-friendly than most parts of Greece. Flatland-lover? How about Thessaly?  Or head to Thrace for some mountain biking. Like touring anywhere, going Hellenic can be either costly or done on a budget. See here for tips. Is Greece safe? As of this writing, travelers to Greece are advised to follow usual safety precautions. Naturally there are places and situations that should be avoided. If you’re a devotee of the Mediterranean diet, you’re in luck while visiting Greece. This way of eating has been around since the 1980s, and was inspired by the traditonal cuisines of Italy and Greece. Lots of legumes, veggies, non-white pasta, olive oil, fish, and grains. I’ll go with lentils and  brown rice, with a bit of cheese on top. The climate of the country is cold and wet during Winter; and hot and dry during the Summer. If you’re on the eastern coast of Greece during July and August, watch out for the maltemi! It can blow at 11-33 mph, which can mean a very tough headwind. For  mythology lovers, how about a tour through Arcadia? Listen closely, and you may hear Pan playing his pipes. Or even just the birds singing. To quote Ogden Nash, “That’s what the shepherds listened to in Arcadia/Before somebody invented the radia.” 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 © 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 ✍🏻 Facebook Twitter Youtube INTERPRETER

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First Semester?

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First semester? Nine weeks sure sounds like it. Is it time to hit the books for exams? It\’s hard to believe that this is the ninth week that I\’m working from home. Has it really been that long? The time has seemed both long and short. It\’s seemed long because, when it began, I don\’t think we expected it to drag on for all these weeks. It\’s seemed short because, at my age, time flies anyway. My home state is starting to ease some restrictions at the end of this week. I agree with the people who think it\’s still too soon. Sure, I\’d love for the neighborhood Chinese restaurant to re-open, so I can have some Mandarin Chicken! And fried rice! Even if they do open again soon I\’ll feel safer getting take-out. As to returning to work, I think it would be wise to let personnel who fall into the \”high risk\” category come back later. I\’d be considered \”high risk\” for several reasons. Perhaps the first semester will be followed by a second? On top of that, I\’d want to be sure I\’m not actually carrying that virus; and that my co-workers don\’t have it, either. In fact, my concerns about \”what if I\’m an asymptomatic carrier\” add a tinge of guilt to any outing except for my bicycle rides. No further news as to when I\’ll be going back to regular work. It won\’t be this week, I\’m quite sure of that. I\’ll keep plugging along at work-from-home; and I hope I can pass the first-semester exams!

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