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Shaking

Evidently we had an earthquake in Portland on Sunday night, but nobody I know noticed. In fact, everybody here has forgotten because of the massive flooding that’s happening everywhere. I’m sure they’ll all forget about the flooding when the pestilence comes next week.

Top seven songs to play on the occasion of an earthquake:

  1. I Feel The Earth Move by Carole King
  2. Shake, Rattle and Roll by Bill Haley and the Comets
  3. Shaking by Eddie Money
  4. Shake It Up by The Cars
  5. Earthquake Weather by Beck
  6. Rumble by Link Wray
  7. And the Cradle Will Rock by Van Halen

Did I miss any?

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When the rain comes

The rain has begun. It started about a week or two ago. After it starts, you lose all track of time of when it started and when it will end. Current forecasts have it clearing up sometime in June (that’s the old joke here). Some mornings when I get up I just can’t motivate myself to get on my bike clothes and voluntarily submit to a soaking. Most mornings, though, I can.

Saturday was another day of football. I dreaded spending five hours standing around in the wind, rain and cold, but only the rain showed up for the game. I discovered that my raincoat, which leaks a great deal when I’m on my bike, doesn’t leak at all when I’m standing around watching football. Other than the rain (and clouds), it was really quite nice out. The boys got to find out all about playing football in the mud. They both did really well again and had team pictures taken after their games.

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 343 miles
Average speed: 11.4 mph
Weight lost: 42 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8
Hours billed this week: 31
Current reading: The Prince by Machiavelli, Magical Thinking: True Stories by Augusten Burroughs
Recent listening: Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground by Bright Eyes, Digital Ash In A Digital Urn by Bright Eyes, Frances the Mute by The Mars Volta, Coverville
Recent viewing: Suns at Lakers, Bulls at Heat, The Punisher, Sportscenter, My Name Is Earl, Millennium (movie), The Office, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Recent playing: Zuma, Halo
Recently accomplished: Bought new front and rear bike lights, called Thomas’ principal again, installed new temporary Tivo hard drive
Imperative To Do: Follow-up with Thomas’ principal, vote, recycle cardboard, finish old blog entries, get Thomas’ computer to boot, rake, clean garage, install new permanent Tivo hard drive, fix laundry room door
Cool Link: Devil Cat

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Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 20.3 miles
Riding time: 1:42
Max speed: 27.1 mph
Average speed: 11.8 mph
Temperature: 46-52º
Route:

  • 162nd to Halsey
  • Halsey to 102nd
  • 102nd/Fred Meyer parking lot to Glisan/205 bike path
  • 205 bike path to Springwater Corridor
  • Springwater Corridor to detour on Tacoma
  • Tacoma to Sellwood
  • Sellwood through back streets to Springwater Corridor
  • Springwater Corridor to Hawthorne Bridge to downtown
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Here comes the rain again

The last few mornings have been very nippy. I could even see my breath yesterday morning as I rode my bike up the hill to Burnside. Last night I put my winter cap on for the first time as well as my rain coat. This morning was my first ride with my “bike pants” – a pair of very old gray sweats. I keep forgetting to drop my winter gloves into my bike bag. Once I remember that, I’m sure the rain will start and won’t stop until next June.

Over the weekend Tina and I had pizza for the first time in many months. I also had a slice of birthday cake. I’ll see Thursday how that affects my weight loss.

For the last few nights I’ve been waking up to find my mask removed, but I have no memory of removing it. I’ve just been putting it back on and going back to sleep, but last night I couldn’t find the chin restraint anywhere, so I probably opened my mouth quite a bit. Perhaps I am demasking in my sleep.

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Vital Statistics

Happy Halloween!

Bike odometer: 312 miles
Average speed: 10.5 mph
Weight lost: 40 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8.5
Riding temperature: 49º
Hours billed this week: 14.5 (at the end of today)
Current reading: I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe, The Prince by Machiavelli
Recent listening: Daylight Again by Crosby, Stills and Nash, Glimmer by Kim Richey, It’s The Jump Off, Wingspan by Paul McCartney
Recent viewing: Without A Trace, Cold Case, Sportscenter, Heroes, Countdown, South Park
Recent playing: n/a
Recently accomplished: n/a
Imperative To Do: Follow-up with Thomas’ principal, recycle cardboard, finish old blog entries, get Thomas’ computer to boot, rake, clean garage, swap Tivo hard drive, fix laundry room door
Cool Link: The Daily Puppy: Today featuring Halloween costumes

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 301 miles
Average speed: 12.3 mph
Weight lost: 40 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 9
Hours billed this week: 49.5
Current reading: I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe, The Prince by Machiavelli
Recent listening: Greendale by Neil Young, Half Nelson by Willie Nelson, Box Set by Buffalo Springfield
Recent viewing: The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, House of 1000 Corpses, Sportscenter, Storytellers: Dixie Chicks
Recent playing: Zuma, Klax
Recently accomplished: Re-installed iLife ’06, returned cans and bottles, cleaned gutters and downspouts, cleaned off deck and sidewalks, chopped out some more blackberry vines
Imperative To Do: Follow-up with Thomas’ principal, recycle cardboard, finish old blog entries, get Thomas’ computer to boot, rake, clean garage
Cool Link: Noah takes a photo of himself every day for 6 years

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Thomas’ Teacher

Thomas is in 5th grade this year. His teacher is really frustrating Tina and me. Last week, he assigned science homework to be done the next day, but there weren’t enough books for everyone in the class. In fact, there were only 7 books for 20 students. Thomas’ teacher made it the responsibility of the students to get together with other students after school to finish the homework. Luckily, Thomas coordinated with two students who live close to us. Unfortunately, Monday night is Cub Scout night and there was really no way we could get him to the friend’s house and then to Cub Scouts. So Tina retrieved the book on the way to Cub Scouts and copied the pertinent section on the school’s copy machine. Thomas was up 2 hours past his bedtime finishing his homework.

This is not the first time we’ve had problems with this teacher. Earlier in the year he assigned math homework to Thomas but failed to copy the necessary sections of the book. Thomas was the only one in the class who didn’t have the book. We offered to purchase the book for Thomas to use, but he declined and promised he would make sure Thomas had the material he needed in the future.

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Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 297 miles
Average speed: 11.1 mph
Weight lost: 40 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8
Hours billed this week: 32:30 (three days)
Current reading: I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe, The Prince by Machiavelli
Recent listening: The Rock Report: Decemberists Interview, Box Set by Buffalo Springfield, Back To Mine by Morecheeba, Digital Ash In A Digital Urn by Bright Eyes, Necktie Second by Pete Droge, Half Nelson by Willie Nelson
Recent viewing: Cold Case, World Series, Countdown, Larry King Live, Martha Stewart (Amy Sedaris was on)
Recent playing: Zuma, Halo, Klax
Recently accomplished: Paid bills, returned stuff to hardware store
Imperative To Do: Finish old blog entries, get Thomas’ computer to boot, rake, clean garage, clean gutters and downspouts
Cool Link: Crazy Biker Chick—An open letter to motorists who dislike cyclists.