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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/08/2018 in all areas

  1. Had a great time yesterday at the Fort Custer dry land sled dog races. I took a few pictures of the 5 dog and 3 dog cart classes. I ran Balto in the one dog bike class. Since I only decided to run that class on Friday I hadn't pre-entered so had to pay the late fee and start in last place. (Bib number draw was Thursday evening) I told the race marshal that I was just doing it to give Balto the experience and I wasn't going to try passing anyone. Well, That lasted till about 200 yards into the race. I had already caught up with the team who started a minute ahead of me. She was having so much trouble that they weren't getting anywhere. Pass number 1. We were running hard and Balto was taking commands like a pro. 1/2 mile in got to the first attended turn. Here Balto had to stop long enough to say "hello" to the corner attendant. Second pass came in this next 1/4 mile straight were a dog was stopped to go to the bathroom. Another good pass. Balto took the "haw over" and "on by" commands like a pro. Next attended corner. Had to stop for another "hello" instead of obeying the "Gee, on bye" Good run to the next attended corner, the last before the finish. Here he stopped to sudden that I couldn't respond quick enough and I had to get off the bike and untangle the lead line from the front wheel. Back on and racing. Passed another team before the finish with another well executed "haw over, on bye". Going back past the start shoot Annie, the race marshal asked me how it went. She already knew what I told her. "I lied to you. We made passes." She laughed and said " I knew just by watching you get ready and at the start that you would be passing." Instead of finishing last of 13 like I expected we finished mid pack. 3.3 miles and over 5 minutes ahead of the last place team. When I told her how Balto had to stop at every attended corner she said "That is a young dog. They all do that." Balto and Shila were the 2 youngest dogs running. I ran the 1 mile canicross with Shila. 15 teams in this race. We started near the back of the mass start. I was the oldest runner in the race. Shila the youngest dog. We passed several but one girl had a male dog who knew he was a male and every time we tried to pass them he would come after Shila and tangle us up. I couldn't run fast enough to make the pass and get away from them before he got to her. To avoid trouble we had to stay behind her the rest of the race. Finished 12 out of 15. I went in expecting 2 last place finishes. That didn't happen. Puppies showed their inexperience but did very well over all. They were well behaved in the dog lot and ended up friends with everyone. SUCCESSFUL day!! I don't have any pictures of us racing yet but someone should be posting some in the next few days. This is one from the 5 dog cart class. Very fast team that did a perfect job and took the commands like the pros that they are.
    7 points
  2. To the Milwaukee Admirals game Before the game we went to the bike expo
    5 points
  3. It is my responsibility to set the tone of this site, and the individual forums. That tone has strayed from where we originally started. I understand nothing stays the same, but I am pretty sure if this place were to be unmoderated in any way for several months it would deteriorate into a name calling, political mess. Yes, some people post less. Some have left. I may or may not be able to change that. Regardless, the Cafe will not tolerate politics. It will not tolerate intolerance It will not tolerate meanness toward one another. I am sorry you disagree with this direction.
    5 points
  4. ...I was compelled to shower and shave today, because this was the morning of the big neighborhood assn meeting about the paved bike trail extension along the toe of the levee. I know you want to hear all about it, so: I went with my wife, but had to promise not to say anything at the meeting because 1. She's not 100% in favor of it and 2. There was some fear of being marked and followed home by neighbors who are rabidly against it. I wasn't worried, because I have guns, but she feels that would unnecessarily complicate our lives. It was a long meeting, and it was packed by the anti bike trail people. They were wearing 'Save, Don't Pave' buttons, except for the ones who were wearing t-shirts with the same logo and slogan.The guy who lives across the street from me had on one of the t-shirts, and told me they were selling them for $25 each to defray the costs of the campaign thus far. The city presented a not unreasonable history of the planning, design, and mitigations proposed, along with a nut unreasonable view of the value of the paved section to the community as a car traffic free connector to the downtown area. They would have none of it, and voices in the crowd cried out, "Give us Barabbas !!!" It was kind of a circus, but thankfully this is such a swell, upscale neighborhood that nobody does anger very well at all. Anyway, I left after the 'Save, Don't Pave' peoples' presentation. Which consisted of a number of logically fallacious assumptions about homeless people and burglars flooding into the neighborhood along this new paved route (because obviously they can't use the existing streets), and some stuff about the last "wild" area on the south side of the river. It hasn't been "wild" since before they built the levee, when it was mostly orchards. And because everyone and his brother lets his dog run loose down there, the only unmolested wildlife is the birds that can roost in the trees. It did serve me useful warning that there are some frighteningly paranoid people of low intelligence living all around me here. Which is useful to know in advance of any real crisis. Anyway, that's what I did this morning.
    5 points
  5. I remember being upstairs one time and hearing a crash. We (wife and I) walked down stairs to find all 3 kids sitting on the couch and the lamp that sat on the table directly behind the couch on the floor in pieces. WofZ asked what happened and all of them said they never touched it. Nat looked at me, as the trained interviewer to get to the bottom of it. Our kids don't normally lie to us. After a couple preliminary questions to get them talking, I asked "What were you doing right before the lamp broke?" Turns out they were doing synchronized coffee table jumping and all three of them ran across the room, at the same time leaped over the coffee table and turned in mid air to all landed seated on the couch. It was at that point that the lamp, on the table directly behind the couch, somehow fell over even though none of them actually touched it.
    4 points
  6. This is my hat I wear for a lot of shade.
    3 points
  7. I just had to tie a pork roast and could have used some help. I figure, if anyone would know anything about Pork Bondage, it’d be him.
    3 points
  8. Name calling and overly contentiousness do not belong anywhere on this site, never have, and will no longer be allowed. There is no knee-jerk reaction. There are no real changes. All I am saying, please be civil toward one another.
    3 points
  9. I know all about trying to stay in shape, and mostly failing living and working on the road. Even carrying a bike in the truck, with only rare opportunities to actually pull it out and go for a ride is mostly a feel good action. There was lots of things I liked about trucking, but the deleterious effects on the body outweighed the positives for me so I got the hell out.
    3 points
  10. No child should ever have to feel shame over such things. Breaks my heart as well. And it is good to hear that you are now passing on the stories that are her heritage. :-)
    3 points
  11. You are wrong my handsome friend. There is nothing more satisfying than living directly across the street from the largest, most beautiful house in the neighborhood in your humble, tiny cottage but getting all the looks because you have every rose known to man and casement windows. I would put a flower box on the chimney if I wasn't afraid of heights. Lydia
    3 points
  12. But with casement windows and a dutch door. The doggy door would be a permanent insert on the bottom of the dutch door. Maximum airflow and independence. Plenty of room for entertaining and company. Or option 2 for a young lady that wants more cozy privacy. Both colors of either dog house should be closer to the 2nd since darker natural colors are in style. More flowers.
    2 points
  13. One word...Tilley Expensive, excellent warranty, hand made in Canada...and had it for years. Full coverage for sun protection, and for FL, the version with the open ventilation band. Can't use baseball caps with camera but soft brim in no problem. https://www.tilley.com/us_en/ltm6-airflo-hat.html
    2 points
  14. I have little garter snakes that turn up in my basement every spring. If it’s nice enough, I evict them otherwise I leave them be. Don’t think there’s much down there for them to eat, but I guess it’s either “starve” or “freeze”. I gotta come up with a plan B. But this guy found a cozy home:
    2 points
  15. I have spring air in the form of a new pump. On sale at my LBS for $96. I bought some new skinny tires too. 28C Bontrager hardcase. No flats. Slowly joining the roadie crowed.
    2 points
  16. In Mount Revelstoke National Park (British Columbia), there is (wild) alpine flowers meadow...best seen early Sept. or late Aug. Just gorgeous...especially in soft mist in the mountain air. It's a large swath to see. Not all mountain parks, have huge alpine flower fields.. Since larger flowers and varieties of flowers aren't as prevalent in our province compared to British Columbia (Vancouver area and islands) or southern Ontario....So in the prairies, one appreciates....wild grasses. Its colours, types... Photo I took in Banff National Park in fall along a bike route. Mount Rundle by Vermillion Lake. https://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/mountain-leaf-and-light-dancing/ Includes some personal abstract mixed media floral paintings plus real places. Cycling certainly has been a wonderful opportunity to get to gardens and Nature, I wouldn't easily nor tend to stop easily if in a car to get up close.
    2 points
  17. Not everyone had a great day. This woman was running the 5 dog cart race. 4 of her beautiful Samoyeds had never raced before. The dogs had to stop and tangle up for every person they passed. Passing incoming teams was a major problem. It took her over an hour to complete the 5 mile course. Dogs have a mind of their own and you can't force them to do what you want. A little like kids. LOL I'm sure @Airehead is glad dogs in agility competition never act like this. She looked worn out and discouraged by the time she finished the course. It doesn't bother me so much if it only messes me up but I hate it when my dogs mess up someone elses run. That is why I chose to stay back in my races till I saw that my dogs would not cause problems.
    2 points
  18. Yup, and any places you can eat with room to park a rig with a trailer attached aren't really known for their small portion size. I actually eat quite well on the road and am careful, my problem is I live an active life at home and eat for it, but do not do a good job of tapering my consumption when my activity level drops when I am on the road. Now I will spend two days with my parents where my mom thinks I still eat like a teenage boy and she will shove food at me on a continuous basis
    2 points
  19. But only if they use your picture of Honey Boo-boo's mom you posted as their avatar. I am, officially, both shocked and saddened that I recognized her picture.
    2 points
  20. Not really. 27 degrees but bright sunshine. That temp usually isn’t a factor, but I’m thinking “standing around freezing in running clothes, then sweating for an hour or so, then freezing again” might not be the smartest thing I could do.
    2 points
  21. Yep. Liberals who want diversity in your town... just not theirs.
    2 points
  22. I love botanical gardens and photographing them.
    2 points
  23. ...oh come on. Damn Canadians can't even take a little joy in pissing people off. Man up, sir.
    2 points
  24. I brought Athena out with me this evening while I was cooking on the grill. Naturally she's in heaven after being cooped up indoors for more than a week. Out in the back yard there were squirrels munching on the evenings corn serving for the deer. They're just jumping up on the table except for one rather runty and inept little fella who kept trying to climb the slick plastic table leg as if he had no idea that the others were just jumping up. Athena spots this little guy from about 30 yards away and begins the slink, one agonizingly slow step at a time. The squirrel is still too busy trying to figure out how to climb the table leg. Athena's never caught a squirrel so she's getting excited and the tail is whipping back and forth. Suddenly she's in a full run and the squirrel doesn't see her coming. I'm afraid of what's about to happen. Athena storms up like the crack of doom and then suddenly stops about a foot away from the squirrel. I can see the body language.......ok, what do I do now? The squirrel suddenly awakes to his impending doom and freezes eyes lock on the cat about a foot away. This goes on for about 15 seconds, a lifetime for the squirrel. Suddenly the squirrel lets it's panic take over and flash it's gone at a full run. Athena looks around for a minute or so and then saunters back to the deck "ya, I'm the queen. I'm in charge here". I flipped the steaks and wondered if I would ever have a camera with me when these things happen.
    2 points
  25. It's sort of hard to discuss gardens with a Californian under these circumstances eh?
    2 points
  26. I just want to say Fillipina, Chinese, and Vitnamese have great bakeries.
    2 points
  27. I am just gonna order you a KKK robe now and save you the trouble.
    2 points
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  29. 2 points
  30. Nobody knows what happened, or if anything actually happened. Now I am questioning my own existence and I think I will eat apples for dinner.
    2 points
  31. Today was the Race for Grace. The GRACE foundation helps families with non-medical expenses not covered by insurance. Last year they helped us with travel expenses to AZ for our daughter’s cancer treatments and even gave her some gift cards for groceries. Our daughter felt she needed to come back for this event to meet and thank the Foundation personally. The speaker this year is a waitress whose 2 year old daughter has been to St Jude for treatment of her brain tumor. We became friends a few years back and I suggested she contact GRACE in the first place. I was floored when she thanked me in front of several hundred people for getting them connected! One of our daughter’s best friends drove 200 miles to hang out with us today. She is like one of our daughters. It’s been so much fun having her back at the house this afternoon! Pretty terrific day!
    2 points
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  33. ...I can probably come up with names if anyone wants them. The large single red rose is "Altissimo". The impressive yellow shrub is a double yellow version of Kerria japonica. the thing that looks like it might be a rose, but isn't, is Camellia japonica "Hollybright". The closeup of the citrus flowering is a Bearss lime tree. The insect monitoring traps are in apple trees, to control the codling moth a little bit better than last year. Those buckets of Navel oranges are a late variety, and the last thing I harvest. I got about seven buckets of them, which we will probably use for orange juice.
    1 point
  34. Just hanging out in the garage under my car when I arrived home from my ride. I guess it's the time of year when I need to make sure the door is down...
    1 point
  35. I do not ride a lot in the winter, just back and forth to work, and use my 3-4 games of hockey a week to keep me in some semblance of shape. This year has been bad. I am on the road again until Wednesday. That will make 47 days on the road since the new year started. I did pretty well but restaurant food is still restaurant food, and I think I am in the worse shape in years. Getting some serious miles in to get back on track is going to be hard, because I am discouraged already. Why oh why didn't I eat more salad!!
    1 point
  36. My SIDIs are 6 years old. They are still in pretty good condition, but showing some wear. I've worn them a lot. They are comfortable, well made shoes. They are not good for any hike-a-bike sections. The heel is too narrow and I roll my ankle often. I'm considering a new pair of shoes for trail riding. Thinking about these options below, Bontrager and Lake. I'd keep the SIDIs for road and gravel rides. All of my bikes have the same pedals, Time ATAC. Anyone use either of these and have feedback? Or other options? I could not find anything locally, so I'd have to order online which I do not like doing. I could just skip it and suck it up. or these
    1 point
  37. 1 point
  38. In one of the many weight loss articles I have read over the years..one tip or hint that sticks with me more or less said "don't waste your calories on crap" So instead of (forgive me Cheese) a moon pie...(mass produced with lots of chemicals for freshness) have that treat at your local bakery..made fresh... Even in your cheat treats...quality should be your guidline.
    1 point
  39. 1 point
  40. That sounds frustrating. Over the years I have found exercising helps, but what I eat is most of how I lose or gain weight. I love junk food. I went to lunch with a friend last week. She picked a vegan restaurant. I had an amazing "burger". What was worse, they had these chocolate chip cookies that were the best cookie I've ever had. I gave her a piece, brought one back for a coworker to try, and gave one to my wife. They all agreed it was an amazing cookie. Not a amazing gluten-free, vegan cookie, but an amazing cookie. So, what do I do? I stay away. It's really hard to do so. Yesterday I went for a run. Garmin claims it was 997 calories, even if I went with the standard 100 calories per mile, it would still be 800 calories. All I could think of during the run was the extra calories I could therefore consume. I think about eating a lot. I am working hard at changing these thoughts and habits. I struggle with it every day. Today I got on the scale and saw one of my best numbers in many years. I know tomorrow it may go up a little. My initial thought will be why bother, have a few cookies. I will fight that urge. Stick with a better eating plan.
    1 point
  41. You’ll feel better if you just do it.?
    1 point
  42. Flowers are good for the soul. A big field of wildflowers always brings me peace.
    1 point
  43. ...sometimes ? Jesus Christ I'm slipping. It must be the aging process.
    1 point
  44. Don't get Specialized MTB shoes! They have a hard sole. When you are falling on a wet boardwalk type bridge, your foot will slide out from under you and you will tear you ACL and MCL!!
    1 point
  45. They do have a history of burning witches.
    1 point
  46. John I will not ask you if you are a lefty or rightly. TMI.
    1 point
  47. 1 point
  48. 1 point
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