May 31 - Hello Al ? Al Gore ? Is that you ?

Is this global warming ? Al -- does global warming mean that we'll get snow flurries on May 31st ? Yes ? Oh good ... I was worried that there might be a problem with the theory. They had a special today at Home Depot on palm trees so I picked up a few, figuring that we'd never see winter again and intend to plant them this afternoon.

You know that the real reason that property values have dropped in Florida, Phoenix and Las Vegas is because a) everywhere will have a Florida-like climate soon and b) the Indians have gambling casinos everywhere now. Canucks won't have to travel south for the winter; seals won't be hunted for their fur anymore since they'll be wearing bathing suits; you get the idea.

Do I believe in Global Warming ? No, not in the conventional sense. Do I believe that the planet is warming ? That's a different question. Here are some of my views:

Global Warming is an industry at this point. The concept of Global Warming is predicated upon the supposition that Humankind is affecting the climate in a negative way -- contributing to its warming. Is it warming ? Perhaps. Is this just another cycle for the earth ? I think so. Do we really have an affect on the climate ? Marginally, I think. Almost any event could radically change the climate -- a major volcanic eruption, a major seismic shift -- Al Gore and others in the "industry" of Global Warming would have us believe that we are the cause and the climate extremes are the effect. They would have us believe that thousands of people die each year due to climate changes that we've generated. Hmmm ... millions of people died due to climate conditions long before mankind even starting really making waves. Perhaps we caused the 7 year drought in biblical times ? That must have been someone causing global warming by burning camel dung.

Ok ... moving on ...

How do I feel today ? Well, a little tired from lack of sleep, but otherwise great. I could get back on the bike again, which is a good thing because in 12 days I'm going to be doing exactly that, day after day. Before then I have more driving to do and some bike maintenance.

Prior to yesterday's ride I had adjusted my handlebars which had gradually rotated downwards at the break hoods from me standing up and leaning on them. Well, I did not tighten the stem enough and yesterday after a section of shake-and-bake all of a sudden they were a little loose. They weren't going to fall off, just if I leaned on the hoods I could rotate the bars. The next time that I stopped I got out the allen wrench and corrected that. I'll do it properly with the torque wrench now (a little late ?).

The other thing that I have to do is replace a spoke. Eons ago, it seems, I had a minor altercation with Hamid, coming up from behind him when he stopped suddenly and getting my front wheel locked in his pedal. Afterwards I found that my wheel was slightly out of true, which I corrected, but now that spoke is loosening again, or perhaps stretching. It's quite scored and I should replace it before the 1200. I may do that today and bring the wheel down to Stef's tomorrow and use Aaron's wheel truing stand. Mine is in Florida. I can get it mostly trued mounted on the bike but may want to do some final checking.

It's still early -- I'm back from church -- may go out an mow some grass. Since it's cold -- 2C -- I don't think that I'll have a black fly problem ! Right now I'm typing and eating lunch.

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Well, I did do some mowing yesterday. That's a chore that I do not like. It's right up (or down) there with using the weed-eater. Our property is not very good for mowing -- hilly, bumpy, rocky, and grass grows everywhere, even on steep inclines where it's difficult to access even with the weed eater. Sandy cannot do it and I don't like / want to do it -- where does that leave us ?

Move on and stop griping !

Yes, I mowed. I accumulated a few bug bites in the process -- cool or not, mowing brings them out. I moved some wood down too. Otherwise, I didn't do much. Oh -- I did bring down some pieces of tongue-and-groove wood for boxing in the beams downstairs. This morning it's raining, but I did cover a section of the deck with a tarp before it started so that I can put the table saw out by the back door.

The prediction for today is rain graduating to showers. From my den's point of view, there's not much difference. I'll putter downstairs for the day and if I do what I should, get on the trainer for a bit.

It's now June 1st. We never had any really hot weather in May ... a few warm days, but no days that I would consider hot. Always, always, when we lived in Philly I would call Mom and Dad and find that it was warmer in Loring than in Philly, for at least a few days. There would always be a few 80+F degree days. Nope, not now, not since we have global warming ... oh get off that kick.

The weather prediction for next Saturday -- my 400k ride -- looks even colder than my 300k ride. I guess that's what I should expect with global warming ... ahhh cannot leave that one alone. In three weeks we'll have summer, perhaps I should buy some ice skates ?

Ok, enough for today ...