Life’s Truths

Still in Awe

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Hey Kids,

I don’t have a clue what the future holds and I love a lot of things from the past. But today, despite

George S. Patton

George S. Patton

some problems, is a wonderful, fantastic time to live.

The Internet has opened the world of knowledge to us like no other time in history.

Over the past several weeks, I have been doing some heavy data entry and desk work. During that time, and anytime I’m stuck at my desk, I spool up information about just about anything. Last week, the War in the Pacific, this week General Patton and the European Theatre.

It’s a marvelous time right now. I’m not ashamed to admit it.

 

Day 105

Cycle Cycle

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Hey Kids,round-arrow

Cycles.

Life usually uses them to pass our time.

I volunteered to help Marshall a pedal bike event and today’s cycle was cycles.

The event is called Little Red. It’s a Lady’s only series of bike courses in lengths of 27, 35, 50, 70, and 100 miles. They are not races but set courses with break stops, lunch, repair crews, SAG trucks, and course Marshalls.

The event numbered 3500 participants and their bikes.

I showed up for the fulfillment of my duties as a ride marshall and found my Yamaha and me surrounded by curious glares from the group of BMW riders.

I have a cruiser that might to the untrained eye be confused with a Harley Davidson. BMW and Harley guys are not the friendliest to each other. I was somewhat accepted once it became claimed that I rode a Non-Harley. Then a Harley showed. Harley riders generally don’t like “Metrics” either.

One BMW guy admitted that they had a Gold Winger in the group. A tone of charity on his voice. I can’t explain the Gold Wing thing even with a blog post of its own. Let’s just say they’re like your odd cousin that you only see every 3-4 years and have nothing in common but a relation that you’re not sure how to explain to someone outside of your family.

A couple of Ducati’s showed. Most riders are kind of cool with the Italian bikes. It’s hard for me to see how they’re so different from other bikes but I get the impression that their owners think they do. “Duck” owners I believe don’t think much of non-ducks, but they never express it.

Somehow the ragtag group of Motor-cycles got it together and marshalled the ride of the Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, and various other types of pedal bikes used today.

The event ended, I packed up my bike and headed home.

On the way home I stopped for gas. Waiting to pull out of the gas station, a trio of bikes passed. There was something different about them. Obviously Harley, the three rode in a tighter formation than typical weekend warrior riders. I set out to investigate.

As I neared from behind, I noticed the three part patchwork on the back of their jackets. MC members. A real MC. The bad asses. The real McCoy. The ones the weekend group tries to dress like. I neared enough to see the name of the club and followed at a distance for a few miles.

The group slowed and I quickly caught up to them. I’d like to think they wanted to know who tailed them. I maintain my speed and passed them from the right lane.

As I passed I nodded my head to say hello to the two on my side. We made eye contact and I got nods back. I could sense their disdain but I got an acknowledgement and that was cool.

Despite our differences, we share a commonality- the two wheels under our machines. That was enough for that moment.

From pedal bikes to Milwaukee to Europe to Japan to MC Bikers. I think I ran the Cycle Cycle today.

 

Day 103

Smile

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Hey Kids,

On the way home, I skim along the edges and cut across the mouth of one of the seven canyons of the Salt Lake Valley, City Creek Canyon.

It’s a one way road for motorized vehicles. The other half of the road is reserved for walkers, joggers and pedal bikers. It’s a nice stretch of road to unwind from the day.

The other day and for no reason for which I can recall, I felt a smile form on my face. It just popped out of nowhere. The joy ride took over I guess. But it was a BIG smile.

Riding in the opposite direction, a lady pedaled her bicycle. Our eyes met and she erupted in a smile as wide as mine. I’m sure she wondered what had me so happy but I imagine the novelty of seeing someone so apparently happy forced the equal reaction from her.

I, of course, laughed next and had that thought in my head the rest of the way home and couldn’t help but smile and laugh.962d9fde452736de6fd1da532a301ba2

It made my day.

Maybe I just need to smile more. Smile more freely. Smile like a monkey with a new banana.

And maybe I just did.

 

Day 102

I Start; Therfore, I Win

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Hey Kids,

I saw that a woman, aged 92, recently finished a marathon. She became the oldest woman to do so. Ever.

It reminded me of a friend of mine. He competed in the Senior Games and ran marathon as late as his early nineties. Last time I spoke with him, he was still planning to compete again this past summer.

A few years back, when he was but an octogenarian lad, he ran the Salt Lake City Marathon. He finished and finished first in his age group. He admitted that his total time was not anything of which to brag and while on the course he saw several people he knew that could’ve easily beat his time. Had they competed, that is.How_to_start_a_business_crop

He won because he raced when others did not.

In addition, he won because he raced.

No one has ever won that never starts.

And Sid said so.

 

Day 98

Exchange Day

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Hey Kids,

Today was exchange day.15 - 1 (2)

My money exchanged from my place of employment to everyone to whom I owe money.

Thank you money. Thanks for stopping by if only for a moment. I wish you could stick around a little longer. I wish we could spend more time together. I miss you.

I sound like my mother.

 

Day 88

1984

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Hey Kids,

1984.

That’s the year I graduated from high school. To most others it’s the title of a book.

The term Big Brother? That’s where that term came from. Check it out it’s a good book.

I remember learning about 1984 sometime around 1980. A teacher explained to us all how close the book was to how it was and within the next four years, she feared we would be living in that world.

Not exactly. The 1980’s turned out to be nothing like 1984. I know some people are going to say different; but no, the world of Winston Smith was nothing like the world I knew leaving High School. Or even today.4c61d4a15e78164dc9ce5fe53750e28f6d4c9ec6

1984 is also the name of a Van Halen album. The last one with David Lee Roth as the lead singer or band member. Personally, I liked Sammy Hagar a little better anyway, but “1984” is an incredible album, one that changed the direction of Van Halen and rock music really. The song “Hot for Teacher” alone is worth the listen.

The 1984 Olympics. Remember that runaway? With the Eastern Bloc countries boycotting, the USA, In LA, won a lot of medals. McDonald’s nearly went broke with just the free stuff I won from the promotion they ran. Big Mac for a Gold, fries for a Silver and a drink for a Bronze. I spent an entire weekend at Santa Cruz feeding off the winnings of Team USA. I still feel sorry, however, for Mary Decker. But how about that Michael Jordan kid!

1984 was a big year. The launch of Apple Macintosh for one. But it was only a year. It came and went. No Party take over. No new world order. No Walter Mondale. And no societal crash.

2015 is another year. What will be historic about it? Only history in the future(?) will tell. The trick is just to live it. Take things as they come and know that one day there will be something of today we will look back with fond memories.

Nobody really knows what’s coming. No body.

So, Relax. (Don’t do it).

 

Day 84

Birthday- Choose Your Flavor

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Hey Kids,

About a year ago, a family member gave me my first Sourdough start, something I’ve had the idea of doing for a number of years. Thus began a learning curve.

Sourdough is not a bread. It is a process to make bread products. Before packaged yeast, this is how it was done. It has a distinctive flavor but how strong that flavor is manifested depends on how you use the process.

The process and use of Sourdough also has a cult following. People spout off hard and fast rules of how to feed it, how to use it, how to store it. Pride is taken in the age of your start.

Starter Gone Wild!

Starter Gone Wild!

Starter is placed in a fridge or container in the kitchen and fed and kept “alive”. Some people insist you name it. Some insist you treat it like a pet.

As I delved into the Sourdough world, I have been finding that there are pieces of truth within the rules but a lot of Hooey is also added.

Here’s some things I’ve learn and adopted into my personal Sourdough Religion:

Age of the start doesn’t really matter. 10 years. 30 Years. Or even my started that can be traced back 50 years. It just matters that you feed it. How you feed it makes a difference.

It’s not better than yeast. In fact, yeast is faster and more consistent. Sourdough is a process that creates its own characteristics. I love the flavor, and that’s why I do it.

It doesn’t have to be sour. How you feed it seems to be what changes the flavor. If you want sour- make it sour. If you don’t want it not sour, make it not sour.

It’s kind of hard to kill. I heard how you have to be so careful not to kill your starter. Do you have a fridge? Can you remember to do a 10 minute task, once or twice a month? If yes, you’re golden. If not, you probably shouldn’t have pets either.

Why am I going on about Sourdough?

I made Sourdough Pancakes this morning for breakfast. And it was my Birthday.

And the connection?

Being the wise old age of 49 today, I have a few years to think back upon. And I’ve been thinking.

It really doesn’t matter how you do life, just do it. There are some Life’s Truths that you are better off heeding, but it’s not always clear what’s Life’s Truths and what is someone’s add-on.

Live it and when something works, go with it.

Create your own flavor of life.

And always have Sourdough Pancakes for your Birthday.

P.S. Today was awesome. Thanks to Social Media, I got more Birthday wishes that I have ever got before. I’m feeling pretty good. Almost looking forward to number 50. Almost.

Day 83

Now is Better than Perfect

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Hey Kids,

I mentioned the other day at work about wanting to make Biscuits and Garvey for dinner. I was asked if I made my own biscuits, to which I replied, “No, Pillsbury is fine with me; and makes the task less complicated.” I like to cook, but in the evenings, it’s also nice to relax.

I received scoffs from one particular person who explained how he would never do canned biscuits. Another agreed and told me how it wasn’t that hard to do.

I make my own Sourdough bread. I’m not afraid to make bread products.

Anyway I proceeded with my original plan and made Biscuits and Gravy for dinner last night. The canned biscuits were easily subdued by the delicious gravy and sausage (if I say so myself).biscuit-md

I wonder when the last time those other two, both Southerners, had Biscuits and Gravy. Although not perfect, I, the Northern boy, had it last night.

It don’t have to be perfect or to anyone else’s standards. Do what you want when you want and how you want. The world will just keep you waiting and tell you how you did it wrong.

Just do it.

 

Day 75