diddlee

Just as I had guessed, cold weather will come to Alabama on the occasion of our backpacking trip. James Span talked like we might had the coldest weather of the past 20 years. Not really surprising. I think all the guys will try to do it anyway. We are gluttons for punishment. That is fine as long as no one gets hurt. I have dusted off my equipment and got ready to go. I'll be going unless it is just absolutely impossible. But James did mention snow! That is something I couldn't overcome. The past 2 days have been awful. I got a round of food poisoning and have been very sick. That all came about the evening after I hiked up to 2 mile mark with my full pack. Then I went to the gym and played racquetball with Sara. I was really tired from all that before the illness came on. I have been really knocked down for a while. My guts hurt. I really am looking forward to getting home tonight, sleeping, and waking up tomorrow feeling more human. The bike club jerseys came last night. I c

Anyone who enjoys inner peace is no more broken by failure than he is inflated by success. He is able to fully live his experiences in the context of a vast and profound serenity, since he understands that experiences are ephemeral and that it is useless to cling to them. There will be no “hard fall” when things turn bad and he is confronted with adversity. He does not sink into depression, since his happiness rests on a solid foundation. I was looking over a book by a Frenchman who translates for the Dali Lama. And I suspect he knows no more about how to make me happy than my shoe. I think I can glean a little from the approach he suggests. It may be easy enough to make a list of all the things that disrupt my own happiness. Then make another that gives me happiness. Next I can divide these things into categories of action. Things I do, things done to me, where, when... and so on. Then ultimately look deeply at all of them to learn where control lies. I think they are right about cli

Here we are with only an hour to go till quitting time. It has passed quickly. Everything but this night that is. I have made some rides this week. Next week looks to be rather busy. I have both boys to keep tomorrow. Then Tues, Wedn, and Thurs I work for Wal-Mart. I should get educated sufficiently to be able to work after that. I will be a tired puppy. The septic tank has another problem. I think the pump has quit again. I'll try to get it fixed myself this time. I see that there are pumps over at Home Depot that might do the job. Boy will that be an awful mess to get into. I would call the folks at the septic company that installed it but I don't think they would get it right anyway. I don't know what will fix it. Maybe it is something simple like a tripped circuit. I'll work on it friday assuming nothing happens. It is supposed to be freezing cold next week. No good time for fooling around in a wet septic tank. Mike brought his lady friend down to ride all weekend.

...fruit flies like a banana! That is one of my favorite quotes from Groucho . But it does seem to fly. I was rereading my posts from last year and the year before. The weather was very similar. We are about to have some rain and cold temperatures in the next few days. The same was true then. During this time of year, you have to get the exercise any way you can. Bev and I rode today. Mike brought Mitzi down from Jackson. We got to meet her momentarily. She seemed nice. I tried to help Mike realize that she needed to be brought along more delicately than to have her out riding 30 miles a day. He wasn't listening. After 3 days of long rides, I bet her backside is sore. He should give her a break. But, hey, she is a big girl and can call time out any time she feels like it. According to the counter, there remain 98 days till the Bike Safari. I remember from previous years how quickly those days pass. With good luck, Bev and I will have some good weather and get in good condition

Joe came down from Missouri for a brief visit. We met at Uncle Jean's house in Maylene. Then we enjoyed lunch at Cracker Barrel. It was a happy visit. Joe is a wonderful guy. Uncle Jean looked like he had turned the corner on his health. He hasn't built up his weight yet but he doesn't look like he is at death's door now. I think my resolutions are off to a good start. I am attempting to apply the discipline I used to lose weight to add some strength. If I can get my self more limber, stronger arms and chest, and tighten the abdomen by April, I'll be more than satisfied.

Well, I suppose I have decided on a resolution or two. The first part of the resolution is to do some hiking. I will do some overnights to get up to speed on the Pinhoti before the April AT hike. I also will be doing some strength training to prepare. I also have decided to "read" one audio-book a month over the next year. I have downloaded Freakonomics for my first book. The picture left is a view overlooking a valley off of the Odum trail. My week off has passed quickly. Those two days of work made it go by faster than usual. The time it ticking down till the employee prescriptions and hospice work begins. I think Melanie will be gone by then. Shelly also has hinted that she will be leaving. I don't know how things will work out. I don't see there being a lot of difference between this job and the one at Wal-Mart. Of course Wal-Mart is paying better.