Feb 7 - learning to ride

Norm Himes is taking the motorcycle course now. He has a scooter up in Connecticut that is 100 cc's or something like that, too big to be ridden without a license, according to the rules. Today will be his final day. He gave me a report-back yesterday ... he too got 100% on the written (multiple choice A, B, C) but said that his riding course has been more exciting than mine -- I quote his email below ...

A girl was asked to leave and come back with a planned scooter class (no clutch), but that was mild. About 20 minutes later another girl went through the planting in front of the trailer, got airbourne and smacked the instructor's SUV. Took her away in the EMT ambulance. Hurt her knee and tonight she'll need strong pain killers.

Excitement, excitement. Yes, these two are better off not on the road with a 600 pound machine.

I'm back from Mass. I didn't fall asleep, although my mind was wandering. I stopped at Publix on the way home for a variety of items.

I did check my tube from the flat yesterday and found a teensie, tiny little hole. I could have simply filled it and perhaps it would have lasted the last six miles. That's always a crap shoot though. I should probably be running thicker tubes with these fat tires. The thicker tubes wouldn't be as prone to pinch flats.

We have a cool week coming up. Today's high is supposed to be 54, but we know that it won't hit that. Tomorrow is supposed to be the warmest day all week ... but of course I'm going to Orlando for a doctor's appointment. The rest of the week is cooler and on and off wet.

It's been ... oh ... 6-8 years since I've had a physical. It's been 4 years since I've had a colonoscopy. They told me to come back in 3-5 years. I hate taking time for these things but I suppose that I should. I'm going to Sandy's doctor for the physical. Sandy says that she (the doctor) is "drop dead gorgeous". I've never been poked and prodded by a woman doctor. At least I don't have to worry about fasting ... I can do that when I go to a local lab one morning after the physical.

.......

I'm feeling a little more human. After a couple of hours sleep and lunch, that is. Sandy, on the other hand, is still feeling the effects of the Friday workout with the trainer. She said that yesterday she took Abby for a walk and shuffled like an old lady. She had trouble getting into and out of the car.

It's still only mid-40's out there, way too cold for a Harley ride, way too cold for a boat ride, and I'm NOT going for a bike ride, thank you very much. Just think, if this had been a 600k or 1200k I'd still be riding. Somehow, when you dig down deep, you find the necessary energy.

I wore my new helmet yesterday -- little boy blue instead of red. I have to do some work on the straps, which I couldn't keep away from my ears.

I'm tempted to do some painting, but not too tempted to actually start the project. Both bedrooms, after the carpet stretching, have unpainted areas showing on the baseboards. When we moved in, all the baseboards and trim were a dark stain. The carpet was so loose that it bunched up at the edges, so the painter was not able to get down below what you could see -- and what did it matter anyway ? It might actually be easier to remove the baseboard and install new, except that I am not sure if I can find enough of this profile. Then again, with a piece of wood pressing down the carpet, I should be able to run a paintbrush along and clean up the existing dark patches.

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We just got back from seeing the shuttle launch. It was a good show. The clouds were thin and broken so a little after liftoff you could follow the arc of travel by the glow and then you'd see it through the holes in the clouds. As it climbed overhead the rumble grew louder than the crashing waves.

The next launch is scheduled for when Jason is here. Scheduled for the afternoon, here's hoping for a) good weather and a clear day; b) no mechanical delays.

Abby and I have had breakfast early. Sandy went back to bed. She'll be up early though, since she's meeting the trainer at the club at 8:15. She wasn't as sore last night, just in time for another workout !

I'll be leaving here around 8:30 for my Orlando Dr's appointment. I may stop at Costco too -- I'll check google maps shortly and see how far out of my way that would be. Tomorrow's forecast is the warmest in the next 10 days albeit with rain in the p.m. Hopefully I can get out for a ride. Beyond that, who knows.

That's it ...