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Lapping It Up

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Lapping It Up ⏱️ Lapping it up would be easy if it were only about gels. Most gels appeal to my palate; and they’re easy to carry along anywhere. I like to take some with me wherever I go, in case I start to get too hungry. Then a gel will tide me over until I can get home.  When lapping it up means putting in the miles, aka laps,  things get harder. This morning the wind reached 20 mph while I was riding; and when it was a headwind, I had to work hard! As happens all too often, I got the headwind on the way back home. I tried to work hard against it, but couldn’t keep it up for long. I feel like such a weakling — even a quitter! When I have to work hard on the bike, it gets harder to eat; and often I wonder just what I really should eat for ride food. I have to keep the prediabetes in mind; and I also have to watch saturated fat and cholesterol! Thus menu planning can be tricky; but I do know that lapping it up can’t mean frequent indulgence in my favorite ice cream.  Menu Planning 🌮 🍲 So, here I am, back at menu planning. I rather let things go for a week or two; and now I’m tightening the screws, as they say. A big issue is, the nutritionist I consulted says to limit saturated fat to 12 grams per day. Twelve grams! It’s nearly impossible to do that and still get enough to eat; especially when I’m supposed to aim for 60 grams of protein per day. I even double-checked to be sure that 12 grams was correct. What am I supposed to do, then? Poultry and ground beef supply the protein; but also cholesterol and saturated fat. Besides, I’m not keen on chopping up a chicken; I’ve never liked the feeling of fat/grease on my hands. Legumes provide protein; but are rather high in carbs. I’m supposed to limit carbs to 200 grams per day. I’m allowed that much because of my activity level; but many protein bars are high in carbs. They can run up my count of “sat fat”, too. This is why I like to keep plant-based protein powders, such as Orgain, on hand. Menu planning can be tricky, then. I need to watch sat fat; cholesterol; and whatever. At least What Do I Eat Now? says somewhere that it’s not really necessary to cut out sweets entirely; and that’s a big relief to me.  And how about the RAGBRAI menu? RAGBRAI Menu 🌽 🥧 🥞 I think I’ve gone into this before: how can I adapt the RAGBRAI menu for my dietary needs? After all, it’s loaded with high-carb foods: corn on the cob. Lots of 𝚷 — er, sorry, that’s pie. Ice cream! Pancakes! I ran that by the nutritionist; and got the suggestion to eat something with protein, when I eat anything high-carb. So my menu planning for RAGBRAI includes meat snacks. I’m experimenting with taking them on my regular rides; and I eat a bit of a meat stick when I take a bite of protein bar. I’m starting to try combining nuts with the protein bars, too. I guess I’ll be able to make the RAGBRAI menu work. Actually, my A1c has edged down below the prediabetes border; so my menu planning probably doesn’t mean being too stringent during the event. I’ll need calories, after all! But when I’m back home afterwards — that’s when getting back on track will be hard for a while! 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 Lapping It Up April 30, 2025 Vested Interest April 29, 2025 Murky Waters April 28, 2025 At Ease! April 27, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Serenade

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Serenade 🎶 How about a serenade for Easter? Just don’t look at me; I’ve been very self-conscious about singing since I was a young child; and my unexercised voice has trouble carrying a tune! Would the song about Peter Cottontail suffice as a serenade? Or, if you’re feelilng goofy, there’s the parody I knew as  kid: Little Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the Bunny Trail, happened to find some carrots 🥕 on his way. Something told him it was wrong; Farmer Jones🧑‍🌾 might come along, and what an awful price he’d have to pay. But he knew his legs were faster, so he nibbled three or four; and he almost met disaster when he heard that shotgun roar. Oh! That’s how Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the Bunny Trail, lost his tail; but still he got away! I have no idea who came up with it; but it was always more fun than the original song. If you’re the singing type, you can sing it on the bike! In between jelly beans and bites of RX Bars, that is. What about the Weather? 🌧️ But what about the weather? I, for one, can’t carry a barometer along on my rides; so I can’t keep track of the meteorological moods any too well. And they can change very quickly! Your serenade can go from sun-drenched to just plain drenched in a minute. It looks like tomorrow will be overcast; with rain sometime during Sunday night. That’s good news for tomorrow’s local egg hunts; and for bicycle rides, too. But what about the weather beyond tomorrow? It looks wet; and that’s a nuisance. My poor road bike gets all mucked up! 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 Serenade April 19, 2025 Pack It In April 18, 2025 Egg Hunt April 17, 2025 Morning Machine? April 16, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Break from Videos

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Break from Videos 📽️ By and large, I’ve taken a break from videos for the past two days. I needed to get back to cooking; and yesterday I made Hoppin’ John. Today I made lentil and brown rice soup; and I hauled out my crock pot to cook overnight beans. I think I needed the break from videos; even those about RAGBRAI! I’ve viewed some of those videos many times; and at some point, that starts to feel like a grind. Not to say that I don’t enjoy them; and I’ve learned a lot; but I need to shift mental gears now and then. And now, how about the forecast for tomorrow? It looks wet! It Looks Wet! 💦 The break from videos might sound like more ride time; but this morning the sky looked stormy enough to keep me from riding much. Mid-afternoon, I finally hooked the road bike into the trainer and pedaled for half an hour. I’m not sure how tomorrow will go; it looks wet. There’s a 30% chance of rain in the morning; and maybe I’ll take the chance and push for a 40-miler. It will be cooler tomorrow; so I’ll have to haul out the leg warmers again. Wind 10-15 mph isn’t the most fun thing, either. Or I could wait until afternoon to ride; but I much prefer morning rides, even if it looks wet. I like to be sure I get my ride; then the rest of the day is free for other things. 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 Break from Videos April 6, 2025 It’s Down! April 5, 2025 RAGBRAI Grades April 4, 2025 Wool over My Eyes April 3, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Getting Easier!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Getting Easier! 😌 My weekday rides of approximately 20 miles are getting easier. Today’s ride seemed quite easy even though I was on the much heavier hybrid;  and I think that means it’s time to start working to increase the intensity of those rides. This morning the weather was bad; so I didn’t go out until early afternoon. Just before I got ready to ride, I checked the weather. The temperature was in the upper 60s; so I wore leg warmers. Over the ensuing two hours, the temperature rose by a good 10 degrees; and I was almost too warm by the end. I forgot to take into account that the sun was out full force. But at least the ride is getting easier! But I forgot to pack along a second bar; and had to fill out with GU-Gels. If not for that, I would have stayed out a little longer. So don’t forget to take extra ride food! Extra Ride Food 🍌 🌮 🍳 Extra ride food is a good idea. You never know when some unforeseen occurrence will keep you out longer than you planned; or you simply might be extra hungry that day. Even when your rides are getting easier, you need to have adequate fuel. Don’t risk bonking! According to what I’ve read, The Bonk can come on quite suddenly; one account said the rider felt great; then suddenly developed tunnel vision and was totally exhausted. Having extra ride food that you don’t eat is much better than that! 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 Getting Easier! March 31, 2025 What a Forecast! March 30, 2025 You’re a Brick! March 29, 2025 Storms Love Weekends? March 28, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Lab Rat

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Lab Rat ? I’ve got to be a lab rat for a while. After viewing many a video about RAGBRAI, I can see that I might need to change my fueling strategy; and that means starting to experiment now. For years, my long-ride fueling strategy has been to eat a banana and some peanut butter before starting; and then eat a bite of an energy bar every 15 minutes. During RAGBRAI that might not be possible. I might need to eat more, less often, depending on how far apart food sources are. So, how will I do if I fuel that way? I won’t know unless I make myself a lab rat. That includes considering RAGBRAI breakfasts. RAGBRAI Breakfasts ? I’m weighing my options for RAGBRAI breakfasts. Depending on how early in the day I want to begin riding, there might not be a way to buy any food first. I also might not feel secure riding one-handed if there are a lot of other riders near to me; and if so, my usual eat-on-the-bike strategy won’t be practical. But what to eat? I’m afraid that my usual protein bars won’t do. I suspect that the PBV trailer truck is not climate-controlled; and those bars — many of which have chocolate coating — will be an absolute mess! Will a packet of peanut butter and a GU-Gel get me to the breakfast town? Or how about packets of nuts and chocolate (in the form of M&Ms)? I’ll want to try Chris Cakes at least once; and that looks like a big meal! Or can I get a “short stack”, and eat less; so my gut won’t  be too uncomfortable when I resume pedaling? Of course RAGBRAI breakfasts will be only part of the day’s food. There will be ice cream; corn on the cob; home-made pie; and more! Being a lab rat for a while should help my stomach learn to adjust. I just hope I don’t gain 10 pounds in the process! 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 ✍? Lab Rat February 20, 2025 More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Roll Over February 17, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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RAGBRAI hydration

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

RAGBRAI Hydration ? I’m already planning RAGBRAI hydration; never mind that the event is still over five months in the future. If anything, hydration is more important than food; so plan how you’ll get your fluids during a ride. For a long event, is a Camel-Bak or bottles a better choice? That depends on personal preference. Some riders find that a backpack full of water makes them too hot; and for a fact, a Camel-Bak does get hot. There’s also the weight of the Camel-Bak to contend with. I intend to use the Camel-Bak for my RAGBRAI hydration, despite the drawacks. Now that I’m doing 20+ mile rides more and more often, I’m using that hydration system much more often. If I’m to use it for RAGBRAI, I must train with it. Since it sounds like opportunities to refill your bottles, etc. are frequent, I won’t need to fill the reservoir all the way. That means more weight allowance for other necessities, e.g. a tube of Chamois Butt’r. If I have the Camel-Bak, I’ll have a drinking tube; and that tube is easier to grab than a bottle on my bicycle’s down tube. Even after a dozen years of riding that road bike, I still have days when I can’t seem to keep from swerving when trying to manage that bidon! And that’s on flat ground; I imaging that climbing would complicate matters considerably. What about Electrolytes? ⚡️ What about electrolytes? Hydration isn’t only about water, after all. Even on the coldest days, after about an hour of riding, plain water doesn’t cut it. If the weather is hot, I need electrolyte drink after half an hour or less. For RAGBRAI hydration, I’ll want my Camel-Bak ready when I begin a day’s riding. Over the years, I’ve tried many electrolyte drinks; and naturally some are more appealing than others. Regular Gatorade has fallen by the wayside; I have prediabetes, and need to watch my carb intake. Besides, I would rather eat my carbs than drink them. But there’s Gatorade Zero! I also like Propel. I’ve found this product in both powder and tablet form; and I lean towards tablets. They’re neater; and I think they’d be easier to use on a long ride. I’ve also tried Nuun tablets; and as a rule, I keep some GU-Gels with me at all times. What about hydration? There are many choices! 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 ✍? RAGBRAI hydration February 7, 2025 I Took the Plunge! February 6, 2025 Edging Closer February 5, 2025 What Hills? February 4, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Tabula Rasa

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Tabula Rasa ?  A new year is tabula rasa, a chance to start anew; and of course that includes riding plans! Not that anyone has to coax me to give riding a try. I’ve been cycling for 15+ years now! But it’s still a good time to work up a new training plan; and to consider some new cycling adventures. When the route for RAGBRAI 2025 is finally announced, I’ll be able to figure out whether travel to Iowa by train for the event will be feasible. It’s also tabula rasa as far as my eating habits go. I pretty much let things slide for the week between Christmas and New Year’s; but now I’ve got to get back to work on it. Sometimes it’s a bit of a problem, though, such as when I’m not sure of the nutritional info of a home-made soup. New Ride Food ? ? I’m considering new ride foods, too; and I’m especially looking for things that aren’t too high in saturated fat. It might be more cost-effective to make my own on-bike food; and I was once again looking at some of the recipes in Feed Zone Portables.  I’ve tried rice cakes, and am not at all sure I made them correctly. Mine tend to come out too soft; and that sushi rice gums up my teeth in a most annoying way. And then the rice tends to stick in my throat; something I don’t need while cycling. If I want to try other recipes in Feed Zone Portables, I’ll have to make an expedition to a supermarket for flour; and possibly other ingredients. New ride food can take careful planning; but after all, wasn’t I just talking about tabula rasa? 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 ✍? Tabula Rasa January 2, 2025 2025 Already? January 1, 2025 New Year’s Eve Bash December 31, 2024 Something Is Rotten December 30, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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70K!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

70K! ? Today I crossed the 70K (i.e. 70000-mile) finish line! My ambition was to meet that goal by the end of this year; and I’ve succeeded, with a few days to spare!  But nobody handed me a trophy. ? I decided to celebrate meeting 70K miles with Chinese take-out for lunch. My fortune cookie said something about, take a casual walk on Sunday, to clear my mind. Maybe I will go for a walk on Sunday. I want to ride to the salvage store tomorrow; but the next day I think I’ll skip riding. Oh, horrors! Skip riding? Yep, you read that right. I think I actually need a day off. I’ve been riding so much, trying to meet the 70K goal, that I probably haven’t let myself have enough rest. For a fact, my legs felt tired today; and sometimes you do need to listen to your body. The Last Miles ? What are my thoughts on the last miles of the 70000? First of all, I was worried about the weather. The forecast had mentioned the possibility of T-storms; never good news when I’m planning a ride. I heard a few brief showers as I was preparing to ride; and decided to use the hybrid and wear a poncho. And then the rain stopped! I didn’t quite dare take off the poncho, lest it start to rain again; and I got tremendously sweaty under that plastic!  I was just about to get on the levee bike path when I heard thunder; and that made me change my mind and go ride around the park. I didn’t want to be on top of the levee if a T-storm were about to break out. And then that didn’t happen, either, except for one grumble of thunder some 20 minutes after the first one. After four laps around the park, I couldn’t bear the thought of doing more laps; and headed for the levee. There was quite a stiff breeze up there; and I’m glad it was behind me most of the way back home. I decided to try Sweet Loren’s Breakfast Biscuits as ride food. I found that they don’t offer the sustenance I want and need for ride food; and it’s a good thing I also brought along an Alani bar and a few GU-Gels. The last miles seemed to take forever. I guess I was watching the mileage meter too much, in addition to getting tired. But now I can get back to just riding for fun! 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 ✍? 70K! December 27, 2024 Sparring? December 26, 2024 Merry Christmas 2024! December 25, 2024 Sugar Spikes December 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Sparring?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Sparring? ? Boxing Day sounds like sparring — oh, there I go again, thinking outside of the box. Sorry, bad pun. But if the weather is really foul where you live, you might want to think outside of the box and ride inside. As for this being Boxing Day, I’ve got a number of boxes that I need to get rid of. That’s the problem with online shopping. Now that Christmas is past, I’m working to get my palate back under control. I’m forever sparring with my sweet tooth! And, of course, I’m working at putting in the miles on the bike. I may as well finish the December Winter Wheelers with a strong showing. The Winter Wheelers Challenge actually lasts through January 2025; but soon I think I’ll take a day off from riding. We all need one now and then; and I haven’t taken one for a long time. After all, I’ve been working towards hitting 70K miles by the end of this year. Within Sight! ? That goal is now well within sight. For a couple of days I didn’t ride all that much; but today I knocked out 22 miles. I’ve got only 18 miles and a bit to go! I hope the weather cooperates tomorrow. If only CTRL Protein Meal Bars would let me “ctrl” (aka control) the weather! But they’ll help you to keep the bonk under control. These bars are made of wholesome ingredients; and each one supplies 15 grams of protein. Three flavors available: Peanut Butter S’mores (shown at left); Magic Charms; and Choc Chip Cookie Dough. A good addition to your “repertoire” of bars for on-bike eating! 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 ✍? Sparring? December 26, 2024 Merry Christmas 2024! December 25, 2024 Sugar Spikes December 24, 2024 Gray Christmas December 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Merry Christmas 2024!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2024! ? Merry Christmas 2024! Can you believe it’s here already? Christmas and cookies go together; so maybe you’d like to fuel your Yuletide ride with Trubar Cookie Dough bars. And enjoy a mug of hot chocolate afterwards.  Not that it’s cold enough here for hot drinks. At 6:00 am it was close to 60 degrees! I decided to go ride in the park, so I’d be fairly close to home in case in began to rain. To my surprise, there weren’t any kids on their new bikes there. I remember one year when there were quite a few of them, despite misty, drizzly, chilly conditions. I think I might have been using the tricycle then; and that’s a long time ago. But ever since, I expect youngsters trying out their rides in the park on December 25! 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 ✍? Merry Christmas 2024! December 25, 2024 Sugar Spikes December 24, 2024 Gray Christmas December 23, 2024 Momentum December 22, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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