THE MONTH IS SLIPPING BY…

Wasn’t it just yesterday that November was ending? It seems like it to me. I appear to have looked up and discovered that we are only 4 shopping days away from Christmas and less than 36 hours from the days beginning to get longer! While my various email inboxes have been filled with offers from every known retailer in the world, I’ve been very pleased to hear from old friends of recent and remote vintage via snail mail and their cards of seasonal cheer …

Recently too much of my time has been spent in front of the computer trying to take care of job related duties and, in the “off hours”, trying to get a new website for my part time business up and running. I’ve been struggling with getting Flash video to work properly in one browser much less 3 or 4 browser types. Some of this is new ground for me and some of is a refresher. At any rate, my motivation, time,  and energy to ride has been pretty minimal for the last few weeks.

The Navigator and I had the pleasure of attending an annual Christmas meal with some of our closest friends over this past weekend. We’re blessed to still have these six couples in our lives. Several of us have grown up together going back to the first grade in elementary school so we’re coming up on half a century of being friends. Of course, as with all couples, some partners have changed, some have been challenged, others have raised children together, and we’ve all grown together.

While at the party, I was introduced to the music of a “new to me” group named Il Divo. I managed to come home with their CD “The Promise”. I’m currently enjoying their beautiful voices as I write…

(And yes, they are easy on the eyes as well…)

While the weather has shown brief moments of improvement, I’m still not seeing masses of cyclists out and about. Of course, as previously noted, I’m not actively pounding the pedals myself. On the rare occasion the temperature has exceeded freezing over the past couple of weeks, I’ve either been working or simply not motivated enough to get out and ride. I guess that “don’t want to get road salt and grime on my bike” is getting to be a pretty poor excuse for not riding. I’m going to have to muster some backbone here shortly and get back on the road.

A quick look at the monthly data from my weather station provides a review of our month to date weather data. The 11th through the 13th and 15th through the 17th barometric pressure drops coincided with our heaviest rain spells of the month.

 

The Navigator and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary on the 18th of the month. We were thankful we were able to get out and about somewhat this year. Last year, Mother Nature “gifted us” with one of the biggest snow storms in recent years on our anniversary.

My friend the Velo Hobo has found an interesting looking frame bag for those of you looking to enhance your ultra light touring package. Check it out at the Velohobo… Bro Dave reports that it has been raining so much in Los Angeles he hasn’t been able to get out and ride… BikingInLA offered up some sage advice for riding in the wet LA weather. Our friend Jim Artis at Cycling Experiences has continued to prep for his upcoming Super Bowl party that promises to be an interesting technological event in addition to a darned good excuse to party. Jim recently took time out from party preparations to celebrate his 65th birthday! A quick shout out to @askbooneNC and thanks for becoming a follower!

Well, Il Divo has serenaded me to a mellow closing point. I believe it is time to go.

Until later,

Zeke