groupw

At the exit interview, “ I just figured it was easier to upgrade the talent around me.”

We were in Chandler in July and August when our daughter was in chemo. Highs were regularly 108-115. I found I could get out at 6:30 am and get in 20-30 miles before the heat really set in. Good window shades are worth every penny, but even so, a pair of driving gloves is a good idea.

Looking forward to having you here! I was watching the weather last night and he said to expect forecast changes right up to the weekend. Who knows what we will actually get aside from a cooler weekend.

We looked more seriously at houses in AZ on our trip last week. Job opportunities are available in both our fields. I prefer the heat. Yes. I have been there in the summer. I know how hot it gets. I would rather complain about the heat than the cold any day!

I already got 1 of my goals last week! I rode South Mountain twice while in Arizona. Set new PRs on both rides and moved into the upper half overall. Last year I got a side/back strain the day of my dad's funeral. Couldn't ride my road bike for several weeks. Doing much better this year. No major goals, I want to do a few longer loops more often and also work on riding hills better. Probably do more intervals running and riding. I hope the weather forecast changes again so Petite and I can ride this weekend! I hope our Scratchtoberfest ride becomes more of a thing.

I have a feeling bike commuting in our city if a bus loop with bike transport were available. One of the biggest challenges to commuting is a business corridor that is not bike or pedestrian friendly. I know many people who live on the opposite side of the corridor from their work. They would like to ride, but feel the corridor is too dangerous to cross. They aren't completely wrong. I can ride it during commute once in a while, but it is very obvious commuters are not looking for bikes. I can see where less skilled riders would be uncomfortable. Not saying everyone who tells me they would ride would actually ride, but I think it would help many....WoW included.

I ordered a fairly expensive (for me) camera last year. Because of the value, a signature was required. I got home too late to make arrangements for the next day. Luckily I was able to arrange a gap in my schedule so I was home at the same time he left the note the first time. As I was driving up the street, I saw him driving away from my house. I honked and flashed my lights and he stopped. He verified who I was and thanked me for making the effort because it was such a hassle to deal with undelivered packages. My in-laws live about 1/2 mile away. Still decent neighborhood, but they had a problem with kids bashing their mailbox at night. FIL had a welding shop make a mail box out of plate steel. He wasn't sleeping well the next time the kids arrived. He said he head CLAAANG!, a scream of pain, a door slam and squealing tires. He went out to find a broken bat lying by the mailbox. The kid must have written his name on the bat when he was in Little League, They found him and got his group for several vandalism cases. When the police officer looked over the "crime scene" he told my dad his mailbox was definitely not regulation. Smiled and went to arrest the kids.

I'm the oldest with 2 brothers each a year younger than the next. Youngest and I are pretty close. Still get along with the middle brother, but he always has drama and it's exhausting talking to him on the phone.

There was a young woman barista at one of my favorite coffee shops. She always looked androgynous. I joked she looked like a female “Toad” from American Graffiti. Fast forward a few months. Had not seen her in there for a while. The week before vacation she was making my coffee. Thought there was a weird shadow on her face. Turns out it is facial hair! When she, now he, handed me my coffee, the voice had changed. Pretty sure hormones were involved. Hope it works out for him. Nice kid.

Great raw talent, but they were naive and got played. I thought “All Over the Place” was a great album. The next album had the hits and I think it was too much success too soon. I would have liked to see them progress a little more before they got big.

I have black shoes

I’m far from a clothes horse, but I do like to look good. A couple wise leaders said they like their people to be the best dressed in the room. You can always dress down once there, but you can’t really dress up. I told our kids rather than rent tuxedos for their weddings, I would prefer to buy an Armani or equivalent suit and be done with it. The kids fully agreed.

Around here, the casual funeral is becoming more popular. WoW’s cousin was buried In bib overalls and a plaid flannel shirt. He hated suits! Ironically, the only time I ever saw him was at family weddings and funerals so I only knew him in a suit! My dad didn’t wear a suit after my youngest brother married over 30 years ago. Mom had them dress him in the dress shirt he wore to my nephew’s wedding the summer before.

That was one of David Hobbs’ lines when a Formula One driver was working hard to pass the car in front. I had to rethink that phrase yesterday. WoW and daughter and I had a little time to kill before going to dinner. We decided to walk around at a mall near the restaurant. I hadn’t been to Macy’s for a couple years. They usually have a decent selection of men’s clothing. They had a few nice shirts but I wasn’t in a buying mood until... On a clearance rack was a light grey suit jacket. I have been looking for a decent suit lighter than my black suit. It’s a little somber for some events. Rarely does a jacket off the rack fit. If it fits my torso the sleeves are too short. Long enough sleeve mean the rest is too large. I know I can get them altered but it wasn’t a huge priority. But, I tried on the jacket (There were only 2 on the rack) and it was a perfect fit! Daughter found the matching slacks which also were available in my size! WoW had been to the ladies room. I told her I wanted her opinion on a suit before I told her the price. She rolled her eyes wondering what this was going to cost us! I put on the jacket and she immediately liked it! She was afraid to ask the price thinking I was looking at a $500 suit. Nope. $40 for the jacket. $20 for the slacks!

We had bulgogi beef for lunch then Greek food tonight. The food was ok. The baba ghanoush was terrific! Heading out tomorrow.

@petitepedal I’m on the edge of town. We have gravel nearby or trails. I have my commuter bike which is very similar to your tank. I’m sure WoW would be happy to ride with us as well.

Bring it! It will fit in the trunk through the pass through. We have a great LBS. He would let us borrow a used bike, but the small frame selection is limited at best. Long range forecast is 60 Saturday and 53 on Sunday. Possibly rain at some point. Worst case we go to Planet Fitness and you can kick ass on some mirror boys!

Haven’t been to an Israeli restaurant, yet. We have hit several great spots on this vacation. Saturday - Dr Field Goods in Santa Fe. Southwest flavors in unconventional sandwiches. I had the New Mexican which has a green chile rubbed pulled pork with jimaca/apple slaw. Very tasty! Sunday - brunch with a cycling friend living in the Santa Fe area. We ate at Chocolate Maven. It’s a bakery with a great breakfast and lunch menu. It opened at 9:00. We were there by 8:45 to get a window seat into the bakery. I had the eggsadilla. Very satisfying. We skipped lunch so we could eat dinner with family in Phoenix. Mom wanted Mexican food for her birthday. The only place that could fit all the family who showed was Abuelo’s. Imagine a Cheesecake Factory for Mexican. Good but ordinary. Monday - brunch with Mom, brother and SIL at Snooze. I had the breakfast pot pie. Basically biscuits and gravy on a puff pastry with some pot pie veggies. It was very good. Tuesday we went to Sedona with youngest daughter. Looked for a funky burger place after dark. Found a place called Butterfly Burger. Kind of a pretentious place selling $18 burgers. By the time we realized that, it was too late to look elsewhere. I wound up with a patty melt with greuyere cheese and au jus to dip. I will admit it pretty much wrecked any other patty melt for me! Wednesday - we ate at Andreoli’s Italian Market in Scottsdale. I had seen it on Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives and it always looked good. I had the Porchetta sandwich. You know how you will say “wow” at the first bite of a meal, but then your taste buds adapt as you eat more? Not the case here. The sandwich kept me impressed all through the meal! The cannolis for dessert were equally tasty Today - we were out looking at houses. Future Son in law was not feeling well. We took him home and grabbed a late lunch at a poke bowl place. Imagine if Chipotle made sushi. I loved it! We are going to look for some Korean or Mediterranean tomorrow before we head to see @roadsue and family on Saturday

Here are a couple I did for a friend a couple years ago.

Im not ready to go home, but looking forward to seeing you and the fam!

We are still on. I will do some messages when I get home on Monday so we can get all the details.

Women are beautiful. Pregnant women are beautiful. I am so glad the days of the clown costumes passed off as maternity wear are past!

We went to Sedona a couple days ago.

I know a guy who said pregnant women are hot. It means they said “yes” at least once!

Moab. We were there 18 months ago and fell in love with the area.