Hey kids,
Breakfast is the best meal of the day; let it happen anytime it wants and especially for dinner.
Post #50-55
A Lot of Little
Hey kids,
Annette and I are told on a regular basis how much fun we must have. They comment on the adventures we experience and the things we do.
Funny thing is, we don’t feel like we do so much.
We get out. We have our cheap kayaks and we have our places we like to visit. We bought passes to the state and federal parks so we can pop in on them whenever we want without worrying about entrance fees.
We like to do day trips.
Actually, we do day trips because of our crazy work schedules and the four jobs between us. So when a day opens for a few hours, we go to where time allows. Today it was a little excursion to East Canyon Reservoir for some floating, picnic, and relaxing.
I believe it’s the collection of little trips, the little adventures that make it look like we’re always out exploring the world. We don’t have the time or the money for the big ticket adventures, and maybe that’s why it appears we have so many.
Post #50-54
An Afternoon in Huntsville
Hey kids,
It would’ve been a good ride but we opted to take the 4-Runner so we could visit and catch up on the happenings over the past few days. Nonetheless, the drive to Huntsville ended at the Huntsville Barbecue Company and some much needed meat, a stroll around the property and shakes at Detours. I had the Salty Dog shake- caramel and pretzel – Annette had the Fat Elvis- chocolate and banana.
The Barbecue was fantastic! I’ll do a ride blog soon. It’ll give me a good reason to go back!
Post #50-53
A Bad/Good Good Bye
Hey kids,
Today I attended a funeral service for a staff member, Angela.
It’s the second time an active member of my team that has passed on my watch and the third team member for whom I have attended services.
I don’t feel this should be part of the job but apparently it’s life.
Angela had been sick for a while and had suffered a number of strokes and heart problems in the past few months. I already knew she would not return to the crew but I didn’t expect her passing until the last week, the last few days really.
I never know what to say at these things but I did feel it was my part to represet her work life. I told a few stories. We laughed. We cried. In the end I noted how she’ll be missed.
She really will. I modeled a character after Angela. She was a huge personality. She impacted my life.
The church official did not know her so well. He mentioned how he wished he had known her better, or at least in the same way that those of us shared.
He ended on the note that he would take away from this service the importance of taking the time to get to know people around us beyond the surface level, beyond the guarded exterior most of us construct. He urged us to do the same.
I’m guilty of the same with many people around me. Angela I knew. How many Angela’s could I know?
I’ll miss that girl. The crew will never be quite the same.
I felt sad to say good-bye but good to see so many people she touched that I never knew she had. It warmed my heart to know I won’t be the only person who will always remember Angela.
Post #50-52
A Few Hours in a Row
Hey kids,
I might be getting a little punchy, but it has been 25 hours since I woke from my 2 1/2 hour nap yesterday. To be 100% honest, I did catch a 35 minute nap during my lunch hour between 2 and 3 AM this morning. Suffice to say, I’m running on empty right now.
Some ask me why I do it.
Some advise to stop working so much.
Others even suggest I can’t hold out.
The why is the reason the other two suggestions are irrelevant.
I do this two jobs because I can, because it’s needed, and because there isn’t anybody else that could or should do it for me.
It’s called standing on your own, personal responsibility, or adulting.
Despite the tired moments, it feels good.
Post # 50-51
Blue Tea
Hey kids,
I needed to grab some food on the way home from job #1 to sleep for an hour or two before job #2. And on the way, there’s a Subway shop tucked up under a grocery store and part of a little Salt Lake underground strip mall.
I ordered my sandwich, Chicken Bacon Ranch, splurged for the meal deal, and slid my card for bonus Subway points. All the time eyeing the tea dispenser, full, I imagined, of refreshing ice tea. Of the peach variety my hopes dared to dream. I declined my receipt, picked out my chips, and activated the ice dispenser
I pulled the lever on the tea canister, and nothing. I pull it three more times just to be sure I was doing it right. Still no tea flow.
I turned and asked the watching late teen/early twenties sandwich artist, “what gives?”
“It’s broke.”
His technical response cut deep and defied any follow-up questions.
“So my choice is soda?”
I looked with disdain at the eight dispensers now mocking my cup of ice.
“I can let you have a bottle of Powerade instead,” he offered. He pointed to the small glass-door refrigerator on the counter behind him, filled with more soda, bottled water, and blue liquid electrolytes.
I accepted the offer.
“No charge.” He smiled
No charge? I divined from the look on his face he felt quite proud of his generosity and customer service skills. He wasn’t offering a discount on my now spoiled meal, but making it known he would not charge me for my “extra” bottle of of blue sports Kool-aid.
Out of reflex courtesy, I thanked him.
Despite the beverage blunder on my part, the artist did well on the sandwich he created and I pulled away on my iron horse a happy cowboy.
Blue does not a tea make, but not everything has to be perfect all the time.
Post #50-50
49th Day
Hey kids,
It’s been 49 days since my new life began.
What do I have to show for it?
Not a damned thing.
I’ve allowed life to happen to me instead of using it to my advantage.
Remember the goal,fight for the prize, and above all never give up.
Post #50-49
My Daily Drive Home
Hey Kids,
To honor my words that said I would, and based on the idea on a post by Nancy Loderick, here are a few pictures of the things I see on my daily ride home.
Out the front door of the facility:
The bike is waiting:
Leaving the “U”:
Rolling through the posh neighborhood:
I have no idea what this is, but it’s there, across from the Shriner’s Hospital:
The Salt Lake Cemetery. The picture does it no justice, it’s huge and beautiful.
Around and across City Creek Canyon and up to the Capitol Building.
And the view off to the west. Sorry the ride gets fast and not picture worthy for the last 5-7 minutes of the drive. While I took the last picture, a fellow motorcycle rider, pictured below, slowed to check on me and made sure I wasn’t broke down (don’t ask me how I took that picture).
And to end, a happy selfie.
My Inspiration: A Walk Through My Hometown
Thanks Nancy.
Post #50-9
$4 Memories
Hey kids,
If you spend enough time at the thrift store, you’re bound to find something that interests you.
For me, the things of interest are either an item of nostalgia or an item priced extremely cheap. The best things are both. Recently I found a video collection of the original Pink Panther movies for $4. Score!
I remember watching these movies on the weekday 7 o’clock Movies on TV. Laid out on the floor, pretending to do my homework, I would laugh at the seemingly endless comedy.
I’ve watched only the first movie of the series so far. I’m now not so sure why I enjoyed them so much. But then again, I don’t ever remember seeing that one.
Spooling up the next one right now; I hope to be laughing soon.
The $4 can still be recovered.
Post #50-8
Maybe There is a Limit
Hey kids,
Maybe there’s a limit to what one person can do. A limit of how much sleep can be denied and how much fun one person can cram into a weekend.
I may have got close this past weekend.
Thanks babe
I suggest sometime you try to find that limit yourself.
I hope you only get close.
It leaves the door open to try harder the next time.
Post #50-7
Mike M Jensen 