IT"S SPRING!!!

I am enjoying my morning coffee while sitting on the deck today. It is just a few minutes past the moment when the earth has crossed that point in its annual journey that marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere.

One of the added tasks of the transition to spring is to prepare for the arrival of the hummingbirds. I need to get the feeders cleaned and ready for them. I figure I still have a week or so, but they will make good use of an alternate food source while waiting on the flowers to come into full bloom.

I've made the decision to get back on the motorcycle this year. I haven't done much riding in the past couple of years--none at all last year. I have a new battery, but I still need to get it ready, inspected and licensed. 
This seemed to be an appropriate mug for this morning's coffee.

I am looking forward to riding again, but I don't know if I'll be putting in many 500 mile days like I have in the past.
 
You've got to admit, she's a pretty bike.

I'll always remember parking it at a grocery store and an older couple was walking to their car. The woman said to me, "I don't know a thing about motorcycles, but I know about pretty and that's a pretty bike!"
It still makes me smile.

Happy spring to my northern hemisphere friends!

John

When Our Focus is Wrong

Most of you that know me, know that I ride a motorcycle. As a rookie rider I undertook a long cross country trip and included some riding that was probably too advanced for my time in the saddle. While I definitely lacked experience, I was not totally unprepared. I read and watched motorcycle training videos to help prepare me for my solo ride.
My planned ride included riding the famed Tail of the Dragon, an 11 mile stretch of US 129 with 318 curves. I took a few rides along MO 125 and rode some of the twisty roads in Northern Arkansas to prep me. The instruction that I kept seeing to avoid ending up in a ditch or straying into the oncoming lane of traffic was to focus on the road you want to ride. If you focus on the ditch, you'll end up in the ditch. If you're watching the center line, you'll cross the center line. Watch where you're riding and you'll ride where you're watching.

It works.
Mountain bikers, trail runners, skiers -- are all taught the same thing. Look where you want to go. If you focus on the obstacles you want to miss you will invariably end up hitting them!

So...
Why do Christians and church leaders tend to focus so much on sin?
Isn't that counter-intuitive to the results we're hoping for?
Wouldn't reminders to be kind, to love our neighbors, to follow Jesus -- be better ways to encourage real Christianity than the constant turn or burn fear mongering that seems to be the bent of all of the outspoken, loudmouthed evangelical preachers, teachers, and disciples?

What if we stopped focusing on what we need to stop doing to get to heaven and started living like we're already living in the presence of God? 
What if salvation isn't about saving us for an afterlife heaven, but to allow us to experience heaven now?
What if Jesus wasn't about getting us from earth to heaven, but was about bringing heaven to earth?
"...Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (is here)."
Remember those words?

Just thoughts in my head this morning (after scrolling my Twitter feed).

John

I've been peopling

Tuesday night - small group class/meeting.
Wednesday - day baseball with many bus loads of school kids present.
Friday night - out with friends to hear our friends play music at a large, crowded brewery.
Sunday - morning church, afternoon ballgame, evening appreciation dinner for the volunteers at the overnight shelter. 
Holy smokes! 
That's a lot of people contact for this grumpy old introvert.

(Speaking of grumpy old introverts -- Chris and I finally got around to watching A Man Called Otto last night. Good movie.)

I still have my Tuesday night class this week and our friends are playing at another local brewery on Friday, but I should have plenty of isolation time to build the necessary energy for these people encounters. 
The pandemic and our rural home with its comfortable deck has probably contributed greatly to my enjoyment of staying away from large gatherings of people these past few years.
Getting back to going out in more public gatherings is a little challenging. Even for the two ballgames that I went to this past week -- I went alone. I did have conversations with people around me. The days were pleasant outings and I'll be attending quite a few more games (mostly alone) throughout the season. It's about a 30-40 minute ride on the motorcycle (depending on the traffic) and I generally park far enough away from the stadium (maybe a half mile) so that parking is free. The ride and the walk are both good for me.

Today I will be staying at home and trying to figure out what to do with my current mowing situation. The used mower I bought over the winter isn't performing up to necessary standards (not making it up the steep hills) so I'm going to have to find out why. In the meantime I'm going to need to keep the yard part of the property mowed with the push mower. Since the yard is relatively flat, I may try the rider, but then again, the walking exercise is good for this fat old guy.

It's time for a people free day!

John

It's almost time...

I'm sitting on the deck in shorts and a long sleeved beach shirt this morning. Last night's overnight temperature remained at around 67f (19c) and we slept with the windows opened. I know that is still a rarity and most nights in the coming month will be in the 40s with some nights dipping into the 30s. 
Daytime highs will mostly be in the 50s (10c) and 60s (15c).

That means it's about time to take down the panels that enclose the deck and begin enjoying the view once again. 
Yay!

I'll need to do some rearranging of the deck furniture again to keep the futon from getting wet during the spring showers and summer rains. Chris would like the deck TV mounted on the south side (screen side) of the deck and that is going to take a little wiring and weather-proofing. I'm not sure when that will happen. It's a good plan. I just need to figure it out. 
And - if we're going to do that, I might want a slightly larger screen.
For today - I'm happy to be having my morning coffee out here and listening to the early spring activity of the birds. 

Different subject, but still spring/summer related --
I'm thinking about getting the Springfield Cardinal's Red Access pass. It's basically a GA ticket for every home game plus one or two ticketed seats per month. Just 10 games would make it a good deal. I haven't been to many games over the past few years, but I'm thinking if I've already paid for the games I might attend more frequently. 
Since I pretty much go to watch the game and I'm not a great conversationalist, I am good with going alone. I generally ride the motorcycle downtown and park on the street (for free) and then walk a few blocks to the ballpark. There is a bar that isn't far from the stadium and they don't care if I leave my bike in their lot during the game. I've usually stopped in for a sandwich and beer before the game, ask if I can leave my bike, and then pick it up afterwards. It fits nicely into a little wedge in the lot where a car can't fit so it really doesn't take up any space for them.
I have locks for my gear and for the bike so I don't really worry about it being secure. It's a couple of weeks before the local season starts so I have a few days to decide. Although a baseball game is a great way to spend a summer evening, sometimes it is difficult to pry myself off of the deck and out into public venues. Retirement offers so many option.
We'll see.

John

People and beer vs. Home and bourbon

People and beer includes listening to some friends play music at a Springfield brewery.
Home and bourbon includes watching the UFC fights and snacking on whatever is available at home.
It's a real struggle!

Chris already has plans to go to a Christmas party with a friend so I'm on my own for the evening.
I really do like listening to my friends' band play, and even though I'll be going alone, I know that I will know several people that will be there. The brewery has decent beer, but I'll be my own driver for the night so I'll have to limit myself on consumption. The weather tonight will be cool, but decent so the motorcycle is an option. Riding is always a factor in favor of going.

On the other side of the coin...
I do like watching the fights and it is my normal Saturday evening thing as there are fights on most weekends. Also. I'm good with being left home alone. 

I could skip the prelims, watch the band for their first set, and make it home in time for the main card, but that seems like a lot of work - getting dressed to go out, going out, changing back into home clothes - you know what I mean.
Besides, I've already been with people once this week, and we have a Christmas party to go to next week. People-ing is hard work for some of us. 

Right now I am leaning towards the compromise of doing both, but odds are probably more in favor of me staying home for the night.
We'll see.

John

April 1st and Looking for a coffee shop

It is hard to believe that 2022 is already 25% over!
Although it has been a mild winter, it's like the year doesn't really start until spring arrives and I can spend more quality time in the sun. I know lots of people enjoy the outdoors in the winter, too -- but not me!

It's still right around freezing outside this morning so I'm inside with the fireplace warming up the living room from the cool indoor temp of 61 (16c). It is sunny out and the day will warm up nicely. I'm looking forward to working on the flower beds and garden during the month of April.
I'm going to begin by building a little outdoor table/workbench. I need a place to pot plants and stuff. It is amazing how much lumber costs these days! Four 2 x 4s and a few screws is $40! I'm glad we built this house before those prices went up. We could probably sell it right now for a 50% profit and move to Mexico. 
Hmmm...

As the spring progresses and I start spending more time working around the yard, I think I'll be spending less time on the computer and less time on the blog. One thing that I'd like to do more of this year is ride the bike.

My motorcycle has been parked in the garage for all of last year and most of the year before. It hasn't even been tagged to ride for over a year. It is now ready to ride and I even managed about 100 miles last week. I think I'd like to start a regular practice of a weekly morning ride for coffee. It would be better if I am meeting someone for a little conversation to go with my coffee, but I suppose I can enjoy coffee and my laptop and try a little blogging about whatever local coffee shop I happen to stop at on that particular day. Mornings will be pretty cool for a little longer, so it might be a while before I get this practice started. 

Looking ahead to next week, Monday morning looks like it has possibilities. 
Anybody up for a Monday morning cup of coffee somewhere within 60 miles or so of Highlandville?
Let me know in the comments or send me a text or message. Otherwise I'll be the pathetic, lonely, old guy sitting by himself at a coffee shop.
Actually, that doesn't sound so bad.

John

What's Next?

It's the final week of 2021 and 2022 is just around the fast approaching corner. I suppose this should be a time of reflection and consideration of the past year, but I think I'll just put it behind me and look ahead. I wonder what 2022 will hold for me in particular and for all of us in general.

At the moment, I don't really have much in the way of plans or goals. I do want to have a better garden than last year and have plans to get an earlier start on the planting. I'm thinking that flower gardening and landscaping will be as big (if not bigger) of a project as the vegetable garden. 

My motorcycle has been parked in the garage for all of 2021. I really need to get back to riding. There is a part of my thinking that says riding to be riding is a bit of a waste -- a waste of resources and a waste of time. It doesn't cost or use anything to sit on the deck and read, or to do a little work in the yard -- and I enjoy both of those things. I need to get back to using the bike as my main means of transportation and just ride whenever I need to be out. I also need to plan a round about trip to Colorado Springs -- maybe OKC, Amarillo, Albuquerque, CO Springs, and something equally round about for the trip home. I might need to upgrade the bike for the mountains. Just thinking for now.

I'm not really making any life changing plans nor resolutions for the coming year; just more of the same movement towards a more healthy and less consuming life. I like traveling, but am also happy staying home. I'm thinking about cutting back on the cigars a bit. I seldom smoke more than one in a day and don't smoke one everyday. There is something contemplative and relaxing about cigar smoking. It's like everything stops for an hour or so while you just enjoy a simple pleasure. But it certainly doesn't make it on the healthy living side of life's habits, so...

I feel like a bit of a slacker by not having any goals for the year. If I come up with something in the next few days, I'll be sure to let you know. If not -- well, I'm okay with that.

How about you?
Any plans, goals, resolutions for 2022?

John

Travel Day

Well sort of...
It's more like a pre-travel day.
We decided to drive to Bentonville AR today and overnight in a hotel rather than getting up very early tomorrow and driving then. We can leave our car at the hotel and take the airport shuttle. The cost of the hotel is about the same as the long term parking would be and we have less stress and a much easier travel day on Monday. And Groucho the cat gets an extra day of being spoiled by her cat-sitter/house sitter.

It has been so long since we've traveled anywhere!
We did make a short trip to Orlando almost two years ago. That may be the only real travel in about four years! I'm hoping that we can do much more traveling in the coming year -- coronavirus and its variants be damned!
I really didn't ride my motorcycle at all in 2021. I'm not sure why. I just didn't. I'm thinking 2022 will be different and I need to plan a few long rides. I can ride to see the kids in Colorado Springs. Chris would rather fly. I'll ride and meet her there.
The same for our Canadian friends, although it's a much longer ride! It's about 2100 miles to Hallifax, Nova Scotia and around 1000 miles to Georgian Bay in Ontario. Both would be great bike rides, but I'd need to find a couple of MLB cities and games along the way for the multiple day trips. If I stay south of the Great Lakes on the way to Nova Scotia I can pick up Ohio and Pennsylvania -- two states that I missed on my last bike trip east. And they have baseball teams, so...

Anyway, it is good to think about traveling again. I hope it works out in 2022.
I am looking forward to walking into the Pacific this week. It has been too long. 

A tropical beach
A tropical drink
A tropical cigar

A slice of heaven on earth

John

Not a Fan of Winter -- or a Pandemic

Nor am I a fan of traveling during a pandemic.
So I guess I'll endure another Midwest winter as we wait for some relief from the coronavirus.

I know there are many that are traveling and our favorite spots in Mexico are among the few places that still allow US tourists, but I think we'll stay put for now. Morning coffee by the fireplace wouldn't be my first choice, but it's not a bad thing either. 

Here in Southwest Missouri, life goes on as usual for most people. While many still refuse to take the simple steps of wearing a mask or not gathering in groups, our local hospitals are filling up with covid19 patients and having to deny treatment or care for other health issues. 

Last week I noticed a number on my blog stats -- the number of views my blog has had since its beginning. Today that number is 275,164. 
I've been writing since July of 2006 and this is my 2,096th post. To be sure, my simple blog is not widely read, but it only took 10 months for the number of US deaths to surpass the number of views on a blog that I've been writing for more than 14 years! By March of 2021, the US deaths will probably be twice that amount. The death rate in the US is now about 1 death due to covid19 EVERY 30 DAMNED SECONDS!

I get it. You're tired of staying home. You're healthy and the virus isn't going to kill you. Let the people that are immuno-compromised take precautions. 
By now, we all know people that have tested positive and it was no big deal. Most of us also know someone that was very sick from the virus and may still be dealing with the after effects months later. I would think that there are very few of us that haven't personally known someone that has died from covid19 -- and yet, here we are.

Today and tomorrow will be around 50f (10c) in the Ozarks. I'll spend some time in the sun and maybe enjoy a cigar or two. I'll probably even take the motorcycle out for a little ride. I'll avoid people (I usually do, anyway) and wear a mask when I can't. If you know someone that shouldn't be out, perhaps you can offer to run errands for them. Or maybe you can just give them a call to let them know they're not alone. Winter has enough suck without the added isolation of a pandemic.

Be kind. 
Think of others.
Love your neighbor. (I read that "love your neighbor" thing in a book. It was a Good Book.)

John

Riding Season

Typically I haven't been one to store my motorcycle for the winter. Dress for the cold and ride anyway has been how I've dealt with winter. I'll have to see how it goes this year.
 
Getting suited up for a long cold ride isn't too bad. I've ridden for several hours in near freezing temps. Dressing that warmly for a short ride is a bit of a pain since you find yourself having to peel off layers in a pretty short time only to have to repeat the process for the short return trip. Last winter I rode in Springfield many times at or around freezing. Long johns, heavy jeans, double gloves, and a good coat were enough for city streets and a short ride.

There are no city streets or town roads around here. Even a short trip requires getting on a rural two lane highway and that means riding at speeds where more cold weather gear is necessary. I have a feeling the bike will be parked more this winter than it has been in the past.

As it is,  haven't been riding as much as I used to. I've become more aware of how I consume the earth's resources and have been more reluctant to just hop on the bike for a long pleasure ride. I enjoy riding it for small errands when I can, but it doesn't work well to pick up groceries or anything that needs more room than the saddlebags can handle. And I haven't done much meeting friends for breakfast or lunch this year. 

The bike's in the shop for some regular maintenance and tire repair right now. I'm still hoping for the occasional winter ride, but I think I'll have to rearrange the garage to make my car the easy access instead of the bike -- at least for a few months.

John

February thoughts

Adios, January 2020!

This morning I'm sitting in our tiny apartment, on its uncomfortable couch, drinking my Ethiopian coffee and feeling grateful for my simple life. The events and lessons of January are teaching me to be more appreciative of the simple blessings of life.

The first step in appreciating simple blessings is being aware of them. I have become so conditioned by my environment that I often fail to recognize the simple things that are a part of my everyday life as blessings. Though this apartment is small, it is safe and warm. Last night, hundreds of people in Springfield MO slept on cots in a shelter, in their cars, or outside in the below freezing temperatures.

This morning I am well rested and enjoying a cup of good coffee. There is food in the 'fridge and pantry and my concern about "what" I will eat today is a matter of choice, not a question of if, when, where, or what I might eat today.

I'm pretty sure I will take advantage of the nice weather today and take a mentally needed long ride on my motorcycle. Though it is an older bike with a smaller engine than most cruisers, there is no doubt that it is a luxury item that I could easily do without. We also own two cars, have a stable income and are building a new home that will be packed with the accumulated stuff that is now in storage.
I guess I'll never be able to claim we lead a simple life -- and that's okay. I would like to simplify our lives and be less tied to things and more concerned with people. I'll let you know how that's going at the end of the month.

John

Monday Motivation

How are you going to live today?

I'm going to ride with new friend. It's a bit of a new experience for me. I've only ridden with other bikers a few times. It'll be fun.

John <><

Monday Motivation

I'm using an old picture of my bike for today's post.

It is currently 38f (3c) and raining in the Ozarks. The temperature will continue to drop throughout the day until reaching the mid-teens for the overnight low. It won't be above freezing again until sometime Wednesday...

...when I will ride again!

What are you looking forward to this week?

John <><

Riding season? Isn't it always riding season?

So I did a thing ... FINALLY!

A year after I retired, I bought my motorcycle ... and I rode it a lot. I didn't know anything about riding, so I just learned as I rode.
I didn't know that you need a windscreen for riding distance on the highway, so I took it off because I liked the way it looked better without one and rode long distance on the highway.
I didn't know that you need an expensive aftermarket seat or your butt and back will hurt after a couple of hours of riding, so I rode all day with the stock seat and didn't think anything of it.
I didn't know that you don't ride when it's too hot or too cold, so I dressed for the weather and rode year round.
I didn't know that a new guy shouldn't set out on a long trip solo, so I took a trip that was over 3700 miles, touched 21 states, two Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. I rode morning rush hour in Chicago, afternoon rush hours in Boston and DC, and rode the biker's bucket list ride -- The Tail of the Dragon.
I rode 500+ miles (and back) to see ballgames or UFC fights in Chicago with my son and rode to St Louis and Columbia MO just to have lunch with friends.
Of the more than 42,000 miles I rode in the first three years of riding, I only rode with someone else about 200-300 miles. The rest was all solo.

Then last fall I needed to replace some turn signals. How hard could that be?
I ran into some problems that I couldn't figure out and those problems caused other problems. It was fall and I ended up letting the bike sit for the winter...then for the spring...and then for the summer.
Finally I went back to my philosophy of -- They paid me well to do the job I knew how to do; I should be willing pay others well to do the job they know how to do.

I called Anthony at Spokes Garage.
I guess I'm a little pleased that it wasn't a run of the mill problem and was caused by a defect in the parts I bought. Anthony fixed me up and really took care of me on the price. I have used Spokes Garage pretty much since I bought my bike. I take it there for regular maintenance, for new tires, and for fixing my amateur screw ups. Fortunately, my bike has been super reliable and hasn't needed more than service and tires -- until now.
Seriously, if you ride in Southwest MO and need someone to work on your bike you need to check out their website here, or like them on Facebook. I promise you, you will be pleased with the service and the price.

When I picked up my bike it was about 40 degrees out (4 for my Celsius friends) and I rode for the first time this year. I could store it for the winter, but I think I'll ride it whenever I can.
I am going to have to be careful that I don't set aside my daily walks for daily rides too often.

It's supposed to be 60 (15C) on Saturday, so I'll be riding for certain!
Watch for us old retired guys on motorcycles!

John <><