Thread Drift

[katluvr]

End August/almost Sept in Florida and well it is hot, hot, hot. Still doing pre-dawn runs. Oh well come Nov. when the weather is perfect I'll be happy!

Even if it is hot out...I still think...why am I here, in the office? I could always be at the beach to deal with the heat!

[OakLeaf]

Beth, so sorry about your kitty, hope you and she adjust quickly to the insulin.

Pax, good to see you! How's everything?

Ragweed central here. DH and I are totally miserable. I just have to keep reminding myself that without shots and three medications, I'd be in bed for two to three weeks.

[Biciclista]

poor kitty - i hope he perks up with those shots!

Today as I was riding into the office, a forklift driver was lifting his load, the trash dumpster. He stopped because at the same instant he and I saw what looked like a baby bird. What is it? I yelled; he responded, looks like a baby duck!
he lifted it higher, so now I could see this brown bird, about the size of a robin, but he couldn't fly OR walk. So He picked up the dumpster and i grabbed the bird . It had mature or nearly mature feathering, and did not have a duck bill. I have no idea what it was.
It acted like its legs were broken. I put it in an area where it was safer, and the forklift driver thanked me. Poor little thing.

[Pax]

Oakleaf - Everything is great! I haven't been hanging out here because I can't ride my bike anymore and it bummed me out too much to read about others rides. I'm looking at a new bike that I may be able to ride so keep your fingers crossed for me please.

Mimi - Poor little bird!

[Duck on Wheels]

First there were a couple of minor technical issues after shipping RubySlipperz home from her ALC adventure, like the bent rear spindle. Then there were a couple weeks of parties, company, parties, company, more parties. Then we were off travelling again. And in between I've had some bad gut days. And then there was trying to meet a hike target for a prize at Plus3Networks (done it now, just gotta get it all registered). But yesterday I finally bike-commuted again, and impressed myself that some of the muscles and hill smarts I finally developed on the ALC (not before, mind you, but better late than never) are still there. Made it to campus yesterday without dropping below middle chain ring. Did the same again today. Today I also rode down to the engineering campus for a choir rehearsal (the staff welfare folks invited all willing to join a gigantic choir doing a re-worded Halleluja chorus to celebrate the uni's 99th anniversary -- great fun!) and biked home from there. UK-E will know the hill from that campus up to our house. I think it averages about 10% the first 3/4 mile, then a sharp turn into a 20% zig before the final 5% zag. It's years since I've biked up it. Last time I came that route (from the train with UK-E after our ride to H€ll) I cross-trained it. Now I thought I'd give it a shot. As I came up to the hairpin, I prepared to unclip and crosstrain, but still had 2 clicks to go down to granny gear and decided to keep at it. Made it up with just one click. Wheeee! Tomorrow I'm taking the car, tho'. I have lectures from 8am to 2pm with only the hourly 15-minute breaks, two of which I'll have to squoosh together so I can make it to the department lunch where they'll be serving cake in my honor and giving me my 60th birthday prezzy, belated since my birthday's in the summer when all are on vacation. I need to wear something nice, be at the office around 7am to copy up stuff for class, and not be sweaty at lunch. But Friday I'll bike again, and maybe take the long way home to try my new-found quad muscles on Fortuna Hill.

[Fredwina]

Having an office 10 miles from a wildfire is tough on the eyes and Throat!
http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_13204462

[Duck on Wheels]

Ouch! Wildfire that close? Have you got your evacuation kit packed? I remember living ready to evacuate one fire season in CA. We had boxes of photos and paintings stacked near the door + one suitcase each and the small instruments (violin, flute) -- i.e. some practical stuff and the kind of things that are irreplaceable no matter how well they're insured. That would also apply to my grandfather's Steinway concert grand, but there was no way we could get that into the car if the fire marshalls gave us evacuation orders. Luckily for us, the wind turned and the fire never crossed the hill behind us.

[Fredwina]

It's burning the other way(north). which is good
and it's about 20 miles from home. I remember the smoke wasn't that bad there.

[NbyNW]

Hi all,

Just wanted to pop in and introduce my new username (formerly jocelynlf). Have been thinking for some time that it wasn't the best idea to have a username resembling my real name.

Life has been keeping me busy, between taking care of a new puppydog, starting up my consulting business, and otherwise just a lot of normal stuff all happening at once.

The big news, and the inspiration for the new name, is that we are moving North. As in, Canada. DH got a fantastic job offer in Edmonton, and while it breaks our hearts to leave Seattle, we can't pass up the opportunity.

Target move time is end of September. Those of you in the Seattle area: I'm still planning to ride Cycle the Wave on Sept. 20. Hope to see you there!

[Biciclista]

ah, sorry you're leaving us, Yes, we'll see you at the WAVE. My son might be going to Edmonton too (PhD)

[Wahine]

NbyNW - Happy trails. You'll love Edmonton as a city. I lived there for 15 years. Fantastic bike trail system, low crime rate and very multicultural. I have been down here for 3 years now and things have changed but I'm happy to pass along info if you're looking for it. Remember to get a block heater installed in your car before winter hits.

[katluvr]

So for a gal from the south living in Florida...what is a block heater?

[Biciclista]

it's something you plug into the wall that keeps the engine block from freezing in the winter. Or just makes it easier to start, since OIL gets thick at low temperature too.

[katluvr]

Figured something like that. I really don't want to live somewhere where I have to worry about that! I don't even own an ice scraper!
Now, don't get me wrong...it is HOT still here. I do get weary this time of year. But I LOVE biking and wearing shorts most all "winter" long. Hey, I have often gone to the beach on X-mas eve!

[Biciclista]

ice scrapers are a lot cheaper than air conditioners.