What's been happening?

I tried to take a much-needed vacation last week.  So far this year, I have lost 7 vacation days, as I am an idiot and not using them.  I was looking forward to a bit of time off.  Work has calmed a little.   We have filled the open positions, and they are very high-quality individuals.  The female we hired 6 months ago is one of the best I have worked with, and it is a pleasure to have such skilled workers.

The vacation started out well, but it just kept getting worse.  The worst part was early in the trip.  I was within seconds of seeing a bicyclist get killed by an alcohol-impacted driver.  It was in the mountains near Golden, Colorado.  I felt sick as they worked on the innocent bicyclist for at least 15 minutes, and it only looked worse.  Read about it here.  

The axle of the car I was driving fell off within 10 miles of careening down a mountain with significant drop-offs.  If the axle had not held as long as it did, I would undoubtedly be at the bottom of some ravine and, I am sure, dead.

Toward the end of the trip, I had an enriching experience.  My son decided to ride his bicycle up Mount Evens (just south of Idaho Springs, Colorado).  It was a 14-mile ride with just under a mile ascent, ending above 14,000 feet.  I'm still determining how he did it, but seeing him score the goal was nice!

For some reason, I am growing more distant from those I care about most and closer to those I do not care for.  It is such an odd experience.  It is easier to hide the intense pain I am experiencing from those I do not know well.

Another downer is I recently found out a perfect friend has stage 4 colon cancer.  He had stomach pains for a while and even had his appendix out recently.  Then, this was discovered.  He is working hard to get the house ready to sell and make sure his wife is going to be OK after he passes.  Just heartbreaking to see such great people stricken with this grief and a short time to live.

On the Mount Evens trip, I was able to take some snapshots of some critters as well!

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Increase from 9.8 to 12.6 and copper clappers

I used to run five days a week, but knee surgery led me to stop. I started biking instead. This year, I’ve tried biking to work more often than once a week. I made three days, one week and a half, and two days a few times. Just under a third of the weeks starting in April, I didn’t bike at all.

I’ve complained about work being stressful and long. We have fewer staff members than in 2006, but we are busier. Technology could’ve reduced one position, but we’ve been trying to fill it for a long time. A staff member quit over a year ago, and we’re just starting to fill that permanent position.

My work life will be tolerable again in November. I’ll take a vacation, but I need to figure out where. I lost over three weeks of unused vacation time in the past few years.

(THIS IS T.M.I., so feel free to skip two paragraphs). I recently acquired a new bicycle attachment and am eager to test it out. One aspect I miss about running is the ability to listen to music or audiobooks. While cycling, the wind noise is substantial, and it is crucial to remain vigilant of one’s surroundings. To address this, I have purchased an Ivation1000mAh speaker system for my bicycle and cat ears to mitigate the wind noise.

I would like to know if the weather conditions will be favorable tomorrow. For the first time in a considerable amount of time, I am genuinely enthusiastic about this low-cost purchase and anticipate that it will significantly enhance the enjoyment of my bicycle commute.

If you are not aware, I have started an extensive Root Beer Review blog.  I have purchased over 50 brands, and I review them little by little, based on my preferred enjoyment.  After the first 10, it is incredible how different the same product is in this world.  Imagine if a tomato had over 30 different tastes but was labeled and looked the same?

In conclusion, I recently viewed the Fruitcake Lady on YouTube. For those familiar with the show, it offers a delightful comedic experience. For those unfamiliar, it remains enjoyable nonetheless.

In addition, I would like to share one of my favorite Tonight Show clips. Notably, new staff members (typically younger) inquire about the identities of Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Johnny Carson when they encounter them. The skit gains additional depth for viewers who have watched Dragnet.

Carry on my friends, carry on!