First ride of 2005

I finally got out for my first ride this year. I have been doubling up the efforts. This week while I am off, I will hike and ride each day. I found myself to be quite tired after the short ride. There are no easy rides around home. Lots of rolling hills which means I am either coasting or creeping up the side with my heart thumping. I got in a 2 hour ride yesterday with a 4 mile up the mountain hike. I am supposed to get a call to go on a hike today. No candy or peanut butter the past few days but I have eaten bread. I have to cut that part out also. The next two or three days have rain forecasted. I hope they are wrong. I need to get a goal for the trip if I am to know if I am making progress. I had thought that I might get to where I can ride the Wiregrass road out to the mountain and up on top and back. That would be about 16 miles on a mountain bike. Hopefully that would be a good level to go road biking. But the constant pedaling of a road bike is a different thing. I need to get time in the gym on the Airdyne. Now the trick is, I won't be in a race with anyone. I will have all day to ride the 40 or so mile loop back to camp. One day is a 60 miler. Now with Florida, daylight begins early and lasts later than here. So I'd have 12 hours to do 60 miles. Average 5 miles an hour and you are there. Do 10 miles and hour and you can make it in 6 hours with several rest stops. Other than the pressure on the backside, it won't be that bad.

Maxwell Atticus Simon

Welcome to planet Earth. The little fellow weighed in at 8lbs 2 oz and 20 inches. I don't think he appreciates the attention he was getting at the moment. This was apparently during his weighing in and bath time. This is the time that they stick the heel for some blood work. Poor little fellow. It doesn't get much better for us. The Buddha said, "life is suffering." Ain't it the truth! But there will be some pretty nice moments. Witnessing the miracle of new life is one of the better ones. I am glad to see some males coming to the family. All those years outnumbered by the women of the house have taken a toll. Now maybe we can see some manly influence for a change.

There is an African proverb that says "when death finds you, may it find you alive".

On July 31st, I died.... After having several weeks of discomfort in my neck and jawline, I made an appointment to see my PCP to determine what was going on. The consensus seemed to center around a gall bladder problem. But he suggested that we should rule out cardiac. Once I got over to the hospital, I had a wait of 20 minutes or more before I was sent up to my room. Immediately I was taken for a chest x-ray. Once I got back I saw my nurse and the lab tech were there and I lay down to let her get the blood. As I leaned back, I felt a wave of nausea and everything went quiet and dark. I became aware again after a short period of time, I'm unsure how long. and from there it was a lengthy process to be transported to Grandview where I received a heart catherization and ultimately, bypass grafts. It was literally like hitting the off switch on your computer.

Spock

Spock is my favorite character in all fiction. A character who bridged the gap between two worlds and faced disdain from each. Who strove for excellence and exemplified strength, character, intelligence, and control. His nearly emotionless demeanor was a perfect foil for those who would attempt to intimidate or insult him. It was a style I would endeavor to imitate to thwart those attempting to insult, demean, or scare me in my own young life. I bought this little figure to remind me to guard against letting my defenses down and allowing emotional hurt to strike me. But I doubt my recollection of Spock will work for me again. It was the last gift from my past. Perhaps I will find another reservoir of strength.

diddlee

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