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Sunday, July 29, 2007
Not as Difficult
The bike ride this morning didn't kick my ass nearly as hard as it did
yesterday afternoon. I think I was just tired from the long drive and it was really hot Saturday. This morning,
I'd slept better, it was nice and cool, and a good ride. I've got some pics to post, but Earthlink is having some server
issues, and I can't get all of them uploaded. They told me today it's a server issue.
Anyway, here's what I got uploaded before the server decided to take the day off.
This is my bike, at what turned out to be the furthest point in my ride. I went around the corner,
and about a 10th of a mile further on was a sign indicating a steep downgrade. I knew if I went down one side, I'd have
to go back up on the way home. I decided to turn around instead.
Another barn in Indiana. But they are VERY photogenic, IMHO.
The hills that have been kicking my ass. I'm living in Florida, where 20 miles of flat road
is pretty doable. These hills are reminding me that my legs still need some work.
But isn't it a great view from the top.
All that before 9:00. When I got home, we spent some time going through tons of old records
and paperwork that has been in this house forever. Plenty of tax records from the 1930's and 40's. Paperwork from
the Carl Furst company showing the amount of stone taken out of the quarry on Tapp road, some with acutal projects attached.
Profit and loss statements, cancelled checks, investment transactions ... the Fursts moved some money around. Meanwhile,
I came to realize that I come by my propensity to be packrat honestly.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post the rest of the pictures I took on the bike this morning.
And I have to drive to Ohio for the mediation. The fun just never stops.
--Scene--
Saturday, July 28, 2007
One Long Drive
I got up this morning looking forward to the drive up through
the last of the North Georgia and Tennessee mountains ... only to find it raining. Not too bad in Dalton as I loaded
up the bike and suitcase, but the further north ... and higher in elevation I got ... the harder it rained. Some spectacular
lightning, too. But the trucks were hard to see when the visibility is down to about 50 feet. It made for a challenging
drive through the mountains.
But by the time I'd cleared Chattanooga ... the weather was improving. By the time I hit Bowling
Green, KY, I was able to put the top down. And other than a bit of consternation and backtracking in Louisville because
the highway I intended to use was closed ... I still make it to Bedford by about 3:45.
Some sights from along the way ...
This is the Tennessee Lake, which the Interstate goes across. I'd driven past it many times,
and finally stopped to take a picture at the very scenic rest area.
All of these were taken from the car. Driving with the
top down makes that process a little easier, though I'm sure other cars along the road were a little disconcerted to see the
camera pop up over the windshied once in a while.
You've heard of a one-stoplight town? This is it ... Orleans,
Indiana. This is the only stoplight that I've ever encountered in Orleans. But they do seem to have done a nice
job making the business district enjoyable.
So tomorrow is a day off ... or today, actually ... and then off to Ohio on Monday for
the mediation. That's the part of the trip I'm REALLY not looking forward to, but it has to be done.
--Scene--
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Road Trip Tomorrow
Tonigh's show went very well, at least it seemed so. Now, just have
to get through tomorrow morning and on the road by early afternoon.
I'm really not certain what to expect when I attend the mediation hearing in my sister's and nephew's
wrongful death suit. I won't go into the gory details, but it's been going on for two years in about 10 days.
Anyway, I'll try to post some pictures and such from the road. I got this laptop, I might as
well get some use out of it.
-- Scene --
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Road Trip
Is coming up. I'm driving to Indiana, then to Ohio. The Ohio
part of the trip won't be a lot of fun, simply because of why I have to go, but the rest of it won't be too bad. I'm
planning to blog along the way, and Andie says I can have her camera for the week. I'm going to try to stay off the
Interstate at least for part of the trip ... put the top down and explore some back roads. maybe find some interesting
food along the way, too. It's at least 13 hours to Bedford, and taking some back roads will take even longer.
I'm planning on two days to drive up and back.
I'm taking my bicycle so I don't have to miss an entire week of exercising. I need to stay on
track to get a few more pounds off before the fall.
I may not be able to post tomorrow, as it's going to be a very long day culminating in a 90 minute
live show starting at 8:00, and the regular weekly show Friday morning. It's a tough couple of days, but then on the
road.
-- Scene --
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Not Watching Entourage
At least, not right now. So many people said HBO wouldn't be worth
having after The Sopranos ended, but to my mind, Entourage is one of the best half hour comedies going. It's gotten
a bit trite at times, but Jeremy Pivin as Ari Gold is really good. It's an all around good ensemble, and the show is
worth watching.
In fact, several HBO shows are worth watching. John from Cincinnati
has kind of captured my attention. It's waiting on the DVR right now. And I'm really looking forward to The Wire
coming back for it's final season. Critics have called that show one of the best on television, and in this case, I
agree. Very well written, interesting characters, believable. Good stuff.
My other Sunday night indulgence goes to the other extreme.
I'm all about Iron Chef America, which I didn't want to like since I was so taken with the Japanese version ...
but how can you not like Alton Brown in the role of "Fakui-San". And The Next Food Network Star is a
reality show that at least doesn't focus entirely on the backbiting and snarkiness between the contestents. There's
some of that, of course, but it's not the main focus of the show, like some others of the reality genre.
At least the prize on TNFNS is one you can acutally see. The winners show up on shows on The Food Network
... at least for a while. The winners from season 1 seem to have disappeared ... but not every show can be
a big hit.
BTW ... that one will be recording on the DVR on the west
coast rollover at midnight. It IS one of those shows thats much better to watch without all the commercials ... and
the hour show trims down to about 40 minutes. More on the joys of the DVR later.
-Scene-
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Thursday ... And nothing to say
Here we are at Thursday, and it's been a pretty slow week. In all that, I didn't get anything posted yesterday.
Oh well. The more blogs I read, the more I realize that there doesn't have to be a fresh post every day.
I've got the Mayor on my show tomorrow ... with several other journalists. It's always a treat to chat with the
Mayor.
Meanwhile, I just found out I'm cooking for three instead of two tonight, so I should probably go straighten up a few
things. Fortunately, it's not difficult to do, and I have plenty to stretch the recipe. I'm trying my hand at
Calzones, but the friend who was suddenly invited to dinner is ok with my experimenting. I just hope they turn out well.
Did I mention that I really enjoy cooking?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Unfair to Big Cheese
I had to laugh. Listening to All Things Considered coming home tonight,
Andrea Seabrook did a story about the agriculture bill currently pending before congress. One of the people interviewed was a lobbyist who did
not give her name, but was not happy with some of the provisions in the bill. She was telling members of congress that
the ag bill, as it is written, is "unfair to big cheese". The person in the car next to me must have thought i was listening
to some Howard Stern wannabe, not NPR. I honestly laughed out loud.
Monday, July 16, 2007
I Love Food
I love to prepare it, eat it, share it with friends. I'm not
to keen on cleaning up after I cook, but that's probaby not really a revelation. It's probably another reason that I
can't move myself below 220. Well, I haven't weighed today, but yesterday there were people at the house, and burgers
and wine and pasta salad and crackers and cheese ... you get the idea. And it happens pretty much every Sunday.
I think as I come up with good recipies, I'll try to post a few.
My friends tell me I should make a tape to audition for "The Next
Food Network Star", but I'm not sure I'd a) have the food chops and b) be able to be competitive in the challenges.
Watching the show, I don't know that I'd have the food knowledge or be able to be creative enough to make the first cut, let
alone through the challenges. It might be fun to try, though, just to see what it's like.
I mentioned earlier, it could have been years ago, that I live in a small beach community,
and I love it here. We're close to a pretty good sized city where I manage the local public radio station,
and do some public affairs TV. That's why I'm loathe to give many opinions here. But
as long as no one is reading this, why the hell not.
But not tonight. I'm not feeling particularly opinionated.
Had the boat off the rack yesterday. We just went out and let it drift about a quarter
mile offshore and swam in the ocean. It's a really great way to beat the heat. Next week is the annual Kingfish
tournament, and that's reason enought to leave the boat in dry storage. Somehow, I can't get enthusiastic about fighting
the traffic that'll be coming in and out of the river. Nothing like a thousand boats competing for a prize to make me
want to stay off the water. It seems like so many people who have the money to buy a boat don't have any desire to learn
how to operate it properly. I've often said the only thing that qualifies someone to be a boat captain is enough money
to buy the boat. Yes, I'm one of those people who think there should be a license requirement to be able to operate
a boat on a navigable waterway. At least a basic Coast Guard or Power Squadron course. And with the number of pleasure craft only increasing here, it's probably only a matter of time. I honestly
don't think that would be a bad thing. If, by chance, you're reading this and you're a boater, take the time if you
haven't to learn some basic rules of the road. And know when you're supposed to give way. Just because there are
no lines painted on the ocean doesn't mean there are no rules.
There is a requirement that people under 21 in the state of Florida take a class.
That's a step in the right direction. And it's required for the operation of any vessel over 10 hp. That, thankfully,
includes personal watercraft. Several commercial courses seem to be avialble.
Oh look, there was an opinion there. Maybe I was feeling opinionated after all.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
It's Hot
I mean even by Florida in the summertime standards it's hot. Just noon and over 90 degrees, which means it's
a good thing I got up early to ride and the get the yard mowed. But with thunderstorms heading in from the southwest,
it looks like that's about all that is going to get accomplished today. Really, though, that's enough.
I love living at the beach. Most of the people I know that live out here feel the same way. Even with the
threat of hurricanes half the year, it's worth it to live at the edge of the continent. Not that we're ON the beach,
mind you, but close enough for jazz. The good news is, should there be a bad storm, we're not right out there taking
it on the chin.
I can still hear lawnmowers running. The guy from Ohio who moved in just a few houses down was out, shirtless,
hatless, and I'm betting sunscreenless. He'll learn, maybe.
There's been a lot going on since I last blogged, which I know was over a year ago. I'll try to catch up as best
I can over the next few weeks from memory. But now, lunch would seem to be in order.
-Scene-
Friday, July 13, 2007
New Confuser
I've made the leap to Vista. I don't know why, but I really hope that maybe the new laptop will give me the push
to start blogging more regularly again. I've been away for a long time.
The concept of blogging really fascinates me, but it's difficult to find the dicipline. I do love to write, and
if my job allowed me to actually have an opinion about things, you'd see a lot more on this blog. But, I'm sure that
if it were to become popular, even modestly, I'd be told to stop.
But, I'll find something to write about.
Meanwhile, it's storming again. I was going to mow this afternoon, but the rain has made that darn near impossible.
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2006.05.01 |
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2005.04.01 |
2005.03.01
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I'll make changes to this site on a regular basis, sharing news, views, experiences, photos...whatever occurs to me. Check
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