Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

On occasion, I notice that cycling has its seasons. One such appeared here. Other things around our neighborhood are interesting or odd (or both), such as here. Right now, as in the video below, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Have a happy one. In North Texas, it looks like we'll be at our coldest of the year, but it looks like a cold and dry Christmas.

Orange and Black

It's that time of year:

The video is about 4 seconds long, but I think my loyal reader will get the point...

Sibling Rivalry from a Common Mother

The Peach Arch at the Border Between Washington State and British Columbia
The Other Side of the Arch States "Children of a Common Mother"

The US and Canada share the longest, undefended border in the world. Both celebrate their national days in July. Canada celebrates Canada Day on July 1 and the US celebrates Independence Day on July 4. 

After the War of 1812, Britain and the US agreed to settle their disputes peacefully. Thankfully, we have managed to avoid any real fights since then. Still, there remain many differences. The video lists 25, though I'm not sure I would really cite Quebec as Canada's Texas....

Lazy Days of Summer

My Kids Read this Blog!

There's been stuff going on. I've thought many times about making a new post. Among other topics, I've got one I've been mulling around about cycling and global warming. That one won't go away and will probably become a new post fairly soon, at least if I check a certain book back out of the library soon so I can get my quote absolutely correct.

Catching up, I was reminded on Father's Day that my kids really do pay attention, on occasion, to the blatherings of their father. In fact they gave me a coffee mug to prove it. It's shown at the top of this post.

Past posts on the topic may be seen here, here, and LOTS here

Darkest Morning of the Year

Long Dark Night on Halloween, but it STARTED Late Due to DST
Streaks are Rain Caught by the Flash

Yesterday was the darkest morning of the year. This year, it fell directly on Halloween. You see, thanks to our all-protecting government, Daylight Savings Time has ended later in recent years. Some in other places know DST as “British Summer Time.” Regardless, yesterday, sunrise was around 7:52AM around Ocean Shores, Washington. This morning, in the “Fall Back” mode, it occurred at 6:54AM. Later on, we shall see it occur as early as 7:18AM on December 28^th (after the Winter Solstice).

                                       

Personally, I wonder how we save energy making the darkest morning of the year in October rather than December, but no one asked me.

Some say that you get an extra hour of sleep when DST ends. IMO, if you’re getting up at dawn, you get to get up an hour earlier. Both statements are demonstrably true.

This morning, I slept in later than usual relative to sunrise, but still rode my bike to the espresso stand earlier than normal. Well, according to official calendar time. Whatever…

Dawn Arrived an Hour Earlier Today!

Birds for the Holidays

Holiday Decorations Complement This Bird

Just out and about today. Holiday decorations are complemented by the local birds.

Halloween PROUD!

Halloween is Coming to Ocean Shores

Espresso stands most places seem to have more "personality" than giant coffee chains. I can't say I'm a fan of "double fru fru with a drizzle of sugar something or other at precisely who knows what degrees."

Seen this weekend, Halloween decorations at the coffee stand I frequent while in Ocean Shores. These were a gift to the stand from a frequent customer (not me).

Such a HAPPY Witch!

FWIW, Kermit smiles at the new color scheme of the espresso stand. Until recently, everything was southwestern earth tones (such as in THIS post) specified by the Arizona owner of the property. Reportedly, the owner no longer feels that Arizona colors are required in a Washington State beach town and hence the espresso stand is the first to break out from same.

For the sake of nostalgia and "Four Rats," I also keep looking for excellent fall color. Keeping "Anniebikes" in mind for the best of the bunch that I'm not sure I've found yet. The photo below was taken across the street from my brother in law's house in Everett.

FWIW, Everett was known at various times as "The City of Smokestacks," as the home of contamination from refining silver that came from what is now the ghost town of Monte Cristo, as the site of the "Everett Tire Fire," and as the site of the Everett Massacre. I got married in Everett at Central Lutheran Church (no, Pastor Silas was no relation to my mother-in-law). Yup, there are LOTS of Lutherans in Everett. Lots of Swedes and Norweyans. Lots of lefse and lutefisk as well in season (spelling depends on if you're a Swede or a Norweyan). Ya sure, ya betcha! It's something Stan Boreson often said...

Four Rats Candidate?

 

Down Twelve

My v3 commute has proved remarkably consistent over time. As it turned out, commute mileage in 2012 is down twelve miles from 2011. In 2011, I drove in to work four times in February, but I took fewer full vacation days and also worked a few Saturdays. In 2012, I took more full vacation days and it was a leap year, but there were no “drive” days.

I wish my loyal reader a Merry (or Happy) Christmas, depending on the language, and we shall see what the New Year brings. Assuming, of course, that the Earth did not come to an end on December 21…

Ski Diversion

I do a lot of bicycle posts on this blog. If you'll read the particulars, however, snow skiing is one of the passions. Snowboarding too, but that is a later affliction. Someday, God willing, I'll learn to tele and maybe even flatlander skiing.

My all-time ski favorite is maybe not who you'd expect. It's not Jean Claude Killy as my wife's favorite is. BTW, my wife skiied down through the trees at Yodelin. It's not Spider Sabich or Tommy Moe. It's not one of the Mahre brothers.

My all time fave is Picabo. She was one of the instructors in a ski video when I was first starting to learn. Maybe I'm like one of those ducklings that imprints on the first experience. Picabo, and Mike McKinnon.

Mike is doubly important to me. Not only was he my first ski instructor. He was also my first snowboard instructor, purely by coincidence, though I like that coincidence. I think I progressed a lot quicker on the snowboard instruction. When I took skiing, I think the instructors had a pool about whether I'd ever show up for the second week. Most of them lost. The myth connection? There is no truth to the rumor that Picabo became a nurse who later was banned from the ICU/CCU unit because she answered the phone, saying, "Picabo, ICU!" Unfortunately, we're headed into summer. No endless winter this year...

Essentially English Christmas

Paradoxically, the Internet can be both personal and impersonal at the same time. Today, I choose to pick one of the latter circumstances and also do the first book review that has come from this blog. A few readers may remember a commenter named "Ham." Ham had an excellent cycling blog, which you might visit here. In addition, Ham did and DOES have other blogs, probably the most prominent of which is his "London Daily Photo."

Still, this post really isn't about what Ham has done (or NOT done), but it is about a little (litterally) book that one of his friends, Danny Bent (or Green), has done as a labour (sic in American) of love. Actually, he did it about three years ago.

Anyway, to skip a lot of details, Ham had a contest on London Daily Photo and I was fortunate enough to win. MR HAM reminded me that he needed my address to ship this mysterious book, titled "ESSENTIALLY ENGLISH." Hmm, might that have something to do with today's blog post?

After a lot of other stuff, a package arrived last Saturday, JUST IN TIME for Christmas. It was AMAZING at how many pictures of the Queen were needed to get such a package from London to Texas.

Twelve Pictures of the Queen Were Required. Note What the English Use Instead of Postmarks

The very first thing I did, once I opened the package, was to verify that this is a book currently available, and, sure enough, it IS listed at Amazon.com. Then, I settled down. In view of the season, the one page seemed especially appropriate.

As it turned out, the book turned out to be a series of snapshots about what England is and has become. I was sad to hear about the double decker busses, and about the fate of the formerly ubiquitous phone booths. On reflection, it wasn't surprising, however. This book is one of what might have been called "high quality coffee table photo books," shrunk down to a much more convenient size. Personally, I liked it very much, and felt it represented good value for the money for someone who, like myself, likes the English and their occasionally quirky characteristics.

And, regardless, it was touching to find out more about Dan Bent/Green, and the man who sent the book to me. Ham. Merry Christmas.

As for Ham's cycling blog:

Ham to me, RXXX

Cyclesafe&happy? It's not dead, its lack of movement is due to it being tired and shagged out after a long squawk. To be exact, this period of inactivity coincided with me changing roles within IBM to work at the company I am in at the moment which is very demanding. Combined with the commitment to London Daily Photo (which at some point transmutes into my retirement plan, as it publicises me when I transmute into a Blue Badge London Guide, including cycle tours) something had to give. On the other hand, the journey reduced from 27 miles each way to 18, so it is easier doing it every day, although it is still cross town.

Oddly, it was this last couple of weeks I have been considering reviving it again, if only sporadically, I may just do that now.

And yes, I would like to help Danny, he has such enthusiasm, such commitment, makes you proud to be human. I think you'd enjoy his book, too. Not because it's great literature, but because you want to be there, too.

Small book will wing its way,

Regards
Ham

Sometimes the Internet really IS small and personal. Again, have a Happy Christmas all!

North Texas Endless Winter

75% Off at LBS was Irresistible to Me. The stuff in the Photo Cost Well Under $100 - Total

Yesterday, I noted that we'll soon be getting 100F+ temperatures around these parts. My cycle computer thinks we're there already. What does all that mean in the larger scheme of things? Well, it means it is time to SHOP SHOP SHOP for winter gear!

While I've not mentioned it on this blog since I stocked up on winter stuff at the Hotter 'N Hell 100 last summer, I keep an eye open for clothing that "expands the envelope" for cycling. Mostly, I get stuff that will work here in North Texas, but eventually, it'll come in even handier when we all return home again. Not long ago, I got a pair of Showers Pass rain pants with my REI dividend. The immortal Tracy Wilkins swears by them.

This weekend, as noted here, a LBS has winter wear on sale for 75% off. Their Hurst store still has a lot of "M" wool socks. The "L" ones are all gone. Gloves and shoe covers vary. They have quite a few balaclavas and skull caps because I couldn't see buying a lifetime supply. The guys at the cash register told me that someone from Mexico came and bought $1400 worth of winter wear - and that was AFTER the discount. Apparently, on rare occasions, it even gets cold in Mexico...

Merry Christmas

Glorious!

The term "Merry Christmas" was a happy accident as a result of an editorial change in "The Night Before Christmas." "Glorious Christmas," or "Happy Christmas," or even "Thank God for Christmas" all work as well.

If you're a reader from the Commonwealth, we could add "and a Happy Boxing Day, too."

If you're a politically correct reader, I hope you'll have a nice winter holiday and that you skipped directly to this paragraph. Now that we're past the winter solstice, you need to enjoy the chilly days while they're still with us.