Friday, December 31, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, we’re only a few hours away from the ball drop and a whole new calendar year beginning here in America. I always forget that the New Year has already arrived in other places in the world.

It appears that 2010 is going to go out pretty much the way it came in. I’ll be pursuing cross training efforts similar to last year’s…

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

DID YOU HEAR THE BIG “KERPLUNK”?

No, that big KERPLUNK you heard wasn’t The 9” plus of white stuff that fell at our home over Christmas Day and the next couple of days. That particular falling frozen precipitation was actually nicely quiet and served to soften most of the normal outdoor sounds. No, the KERPLUNK wasn’t the sound of crashing systems and power lines. Even though it was a bigger snow for our area than we’ve received in the last few “global warming” years, we didn’t lose power at all and stayed nice and toasty while we sat on the couch and watched the horses playing in the field across from us as we had our morning coffee. And no, the KERPLUNK you heard was neither the Navigator nor myself falling and busting our butts as we slipped and slid on our icy deck…

Nick's Lengthening Icicle

(Photo of growing icicle by Nick “Il Plummer” Nicholson)

In fact, that BIG KERPLUNK you heard was…

Friday, December 24, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 

May you each find peace and joy this Christmas season–Zeke and the Navigator…

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

I Get Stumped...

I appreciate Kent's coverage of this important topic! It helps me think about keeping my bike safe but, I must admit that I get stumped when it comes to comprehending how you carry around that heavy U-Lock and an extra cable lock. I don't have a rack/panniers and I don't use a backpack when on my road bike. So, how the heck do you carry all of that around?

in reference to:

"A U-lock plus a cable provide pretty good security"
- Kent's Bike Blog (view on Google Sidewiki)

Monday, December 20, 2010

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 …

Friday, December 17, 2010

Wrapping Up Your Work Week on a Musical Note!

What an experience this must have been! ENJOY!

 

Thanks to AlphabetPhotography, Inc. for this Christmas greeting!

 

Until later,

- Zeke

New Floss for Your Dog Announced!

The lip burn is nasty but polishing the old teeth works really, really nice!

in reference to: Life On A Baron: Photo of the Day (view on Google Sidewiki)

Is Kent Peterson channeling Stephen King?

I kept waiting for Cujo to jump out of the bushes and take me down as I read Kent's harrowing tale of the Michelin Wire. I think I've actually been a victim of this treachery in the past. Check out Kent "the Wordsmith" Peterson...

in reference to: Kent's Bike Blog (view on Google Sidewiki)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

BIKE PLAN ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY!

The French Broad Metropolitan Planning Organization made a grant to Haywood County Government today bringing the plan for development of a bike plan one step closer to reality for Haywood County, NC.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Washington Post calls greater policing of cyclists

Perhaps it was beyond the scope of this editorial to call for the equal enforcement of traffic laws for cyclists and cars... A cycling friendly Transportation Director appears to have lost his job due to the recent Mayoral election in Washington, DC.

in reference to:

"For starters, we would suggest a greater emphasis on the responsibilities of cyclists"
- Gabe Klein's departure (view on Google Sidewiki)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Hats Off To a serious cold weather commuter!

The Springfield Cyclist does his ususal commute to work in some seriously cold weather, has a story to tell, and generates an interesting thread about riding with or without flashing lights...

in reference to:

"morning commutes at 16, 17 and 15 degrees"
- I’m sorry I cut you off « SpringfieldCyclist.com – Tracy Wilkins’ Cycling Weblog (view on Google Sidewiki)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

MOTHER NATURE SENDS WINTER BACK TO WNC!

In an altogether predictable set of weather circumstances, Mother Nature has seen fit to revisit Western North Carolina with another round of snow and single digit temperatures this weekend. It all started over night with the barometric pressure dropping steadily and the temperatures falling throughout the day…

Saturday, December 11, 2010

A Fine Reminder of the Excellence of Tilley hats

I found the VeloHobo's post "Ode to a Chapeau" to be a fun reminder of what is without doubt my finest hat. I've owned a Tilley for many years and it has done an excellent job of protecting my bald head in both sunshine and rain...

in reference to: The Velo Hobo (view on Google Sidewiki)

Friday, December 10, 2010

A PRETTY START TO THE DAY…

Sometimes, I’m just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to see or experience something wonderful. As I was greeting our Labrador Retrievers Zeke and Orla this morning, I was lucky enough to glance up just in time to catch a beautiful sunrise over Mt. Pisgah and Cold Mountain…

Sunrise on Mt Pisgah

(Mt. Pisgah just as the sun makes it appearance for the day…)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

IT IS TIME FOR THE GOOD NEWS!

My work day is done and I sit at my table putting finger to keyboard as the mercury continues its way down the incrementally marked tube indicating that another night of freezing temperatures await us. I find myself wrapped up in my blanket hoping that someday in the future I will again enjoy the pleasures of wood stove heat or the ecstasy of backing up to an open hearth fire to warm my very core. In the dimming light of the day, I watch out the window as the grey flat clouds skitter across the top of Cold Mountain in the flat profile that so often portends a snowfall.

freezingthermometer

Through my window to the north, my neighbor tends two large bonfires he has going on his property. I’m hoping he doesn’t set the mountain on fire for the 4th or is it now the 5th time since moving here. Fighting brush fires in freezing weather just can’t be any fun! But, hey, I opened this with the thought that it was time for the GOOD NEWS! …and so it shall be….