The Scene on Wednesday

The last few evening rides I have not had any company to distract me, just the scenery around me and inside my head. I've been riding to Jones exclusively because it's a good hilly route with little traffic and loads of cyclists so the motorists are aware that we are out there and not too likely to run us down. I'm not afraid to ride alone on that route. The roads I ride on are almost all two lane, but they are pretty good and lines of sight are good. Jones is a little town with under 3,000 residents. There is a convenience store, a SubWay and a Sonic and 15 churches including two Methodist churches. Not all denominations are represented, so I have to assume that part of the church going population is driving into Oklahoma City to worship.

Among the churches there are a couple that are especially interesting to me. The first one I pass is Saint Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Christian Church. It's one of the cutest churches I have ever seen, and always immaculately tidy.

The other one that piques my curiosity is Cowboys For Christ (covered in the blood of Jesus) conveniently located across the street from the livestock auction barn. There is apparently lots of activity around this one - behind the main building they have a covered outdoor area for musical programs and a kind of western town mock up. It always looks well kept as well.

More Thrilling Holiday Fun

Shana got in late last night - didn't matter when because the fireworks display we had planned to attend was cancelled due to storm. We had a massive thunder & lightning event which not only cancelled several local events but made my burger grilling a team sport. Sharon Jean held the umbrella while I tended to the burgers. If I do say so myself (and I do) they were very good indeed. This morning I made Paula Deen's avocado and corn salad with slight changes to the thanks of a grateful nation. Maybe not the actual nation, but it was very well received at the church potluck. It will definitely join my repertoire as it has all the best features of a potluck dish: NO COOKING, no mayonnaise so it can sit at room temps without poisoning anyone, good looking, and inexpensive.

Before I left for church this morning I was watching Stage 2 of The Tour de France, but had to leave just minutes before the end of the stage. I therefore missed the exciting sprint to the finish. I came home after services and potluck lunch and settled into my study/craft room to work on the Canal du Midi sock in progress while watching the rebroadcast of the stage. It was so relaxing that I fell asleep just minutes before the end of the stage. Doomed, I'd say. I did see the last few seconds in the replays at the end of the program but DANG. Missed it twice! I've had this book for a while and always intended to make this sock. I did begin the first sock twice, but only because after a couple of inches I could see that I needed to go to a smaller needle. I am continuing the ribbing across the back of the sock down to the heel as I think this will provide a better fit and a slightly better look. That mysterious lump in the photo is my toe, not some defect in the sock!

Holiday Weekend Fun

As usual Shana and I had big plans for the Fourth of July weekend. We had scheduled a ride with friends (and pancakes after!), a barbecue, and fireworks. Unfortunately all of these things will happen without Shana. Taking advantage of both of her kids being out of town for the holiday weekend Nancy H dropped a big piece of marble on the instep of her foot and broke it (the foot, not the marble) It's a bad break, and Nancy needed someone to help. For a variety of reasons neither son nor daughter was able to come back, and because it's the holiday weekend she was not able to get home health care to come out so she could take her pain medication without worrying about what Larry might get up to without supervision. We hoped Shana would not have to drive down to Dallas, then that she would only be there for one night, now it looks like she may make it in time for fireworks but will have missed everything else. Our guests will be subjected to my hamburgers!

So far everything else is rolling right along. We had a really nice ride, cool and overcast. Pancakes were as good as always, and the company was excellent. We may have rain later today, but I won't complain if we do. My home made cinnamon ice cream is delicious, pies are ready to go in the oven, and the potato salad is assembled. The beer is cold and Shelly is bringing the baked beans - if she can get her car issue taken care of before then. Oh well, I may be picking her up. I was not counting on manning the grill myself, but I've done it before. It wasn't recently, but it should be like riding a bicycle. The only thing is that when last I grilled burgers I was timing them by the cigarette method - smoke one and turn the burgers over. I'm not going to take up smoking again for the sake of the burgers! It's funny how Shana is the official cook and party hostess so no one is at all sure I can do this myself.

The Lake House

Shana and I invited a couple of friends to spend the weekend at Lake Eufaula. We were all looking forward to it and it definitely met expectations. We drove out Friday afternoon, getting there in time to appreciate the stunning heat and feast on tacos. Saturday morning we ran all the errands necessary for a weekend at the lake. Diane asked that most classic of questions at the local convenience store: "Do you have worms?". It always makes me laugh uncontrollably - much too personal a question to ask of a stranger! I love the odd inventory and sociability of the local stores.

Then it was on to the flea market to score some floats for the lake. For convenience sake we wanted to get our floats already blown up, but getting them all in the vehicle was more of a problem than we anticipated. We had still to stop for tomatoes and sweet corn. We got a sack of organic sweet corn picked just that morning that was just delicious. Shana cleaned it carefully to get rid of the organic worms.

The rest of the day was spent floating around on the lake scorching our legs in the sun, fishing, reading, and napping. Later we had a game of pool (we stink), a steak dinner and a game of Cranium. Altogether a perfect day. Sunday morning was likewise a study in relaxation and creative idleness. How I wish every summer weekend consisted of four or five such perfect days. Sadly it doesn't, and tomorrow I'll have to go back to work. BooHoo.

Still Perfect

I just got back from having my first heart scan, and I have NO blockage. Yay! Of course this does not mean that my health is perfect in every way, but it is reassuring to know that I am on the right track. Now I just have to schedule my yearly and have my yearly argument with my doctor about Vytorin. He wants me to take it, I think DEATH is more side effect than I am willing to consider. He prescribes it and I don't take it. Maybe armed with my perfect hearth scan and my current nearly vegetarian diet we can come to an arrangement we can both live with.

This weekend we are planning a trip to a house on Lake Eufaula in Eastern Oklahoma. The big plans include lounging around, floating on air mattresses on the lake, and taking a nice long bike ride. We are going to take the dogs with us, which will both simplify and complicate the trip. We will not have to arrange for dog sitting, but will have to consider their comfort and safety. I know Roxy will be just fine, especially with her friend along for company. Skippy has a history of panic when left in a strange place. He tore all the blinds out of a house when he was left alone in an unfamiliar place once (the ONLY time). Therefore we will be staking the dogs outside while we are gone! I am walking the dogs together morning and evening, which makes them both a little calmer and reinforces their bond. I am hoping Skippy will feel relaxed enough to enjoy the trip to the lake with us.

Watch this and please tell me why our elected representatives do not want us the offer the Single Payer or at least Public Option we so obviously need. It does not seem to matter what the insurance companies say, our elected representatives seem to hear only the money, not the people.

Out in the Country

Today we rode out for the 2009 Baptist Children's Home Ride. It's a good ride that we've done for several years. For a $25.00 entry fee you get a T shirt and some other assorted goodies (this year a really cool little flashlight that I am going to put in my bike bag), an entry in several drawings (I won a set of pedals once worth about $60.00), road support including Portapotties, drinks and fruit, and lunch afterwards. It's a full half day of fun at a bargain price. The scenery is beautiful; the company is good, and it's early enough in the season that it's usually not 950 degrees in the shade. Today was windy, but that's life in Oklahoma at all times of the year.

For some reason we always have a terrible time getting there on time. This year was no exception. Shana and I were talking and blew past our exit. This would only be a minor inconvenience except that our exit was the last one before the turnpike - next stop Chickasha 23 miles down the road. Shana had the brilliant idea to get off at the Yukon exit, then turn around and get back on going back towards our exit. The trouble was that you can't get there from here. There is no way to get off there and get right back on. She ended up turning around and noticed that we were now driving into the oncoming lane. Lucky for us at 7:00 Saturday morning there is not any traffic. We finally got going back the right way in the right lane and arrived in time to get registered and take off with our group.

There was an interesting guy riding along on the 27 mile ride at about the same pace as I was. He had a really cool bike that looked a lot like an Electra Townie but lower and longer. After visiting with him off and on for a few miles I asked him where he got his bike. Turns out he built it himself. He's 52 years old and uses this bike for regular commuting in addition to the odd cycling event. Quite a bike, and quite an interesting character. On most of these organized rides the prettiest bikes and jerseys are on the people riding the longest distances, but the unique characters are often doing the shorter rides.

Another rider turned out to be a chef getting ready to open a gourmet taco restaurant AND roaming taco truck. Shana was excited to have a chance to visit with her about it because it's long been one of her dreams to have a taco wagon. She's hoping to be able to come work in the kitchen/wagon a bit to see what it's really like.