My Morning Gross Out

(RS) “We recycle everything that we remove — the water is extracted and the remaining fats and oils are turned into products like soap, biodiesel and fuel,” a CountyClean spokesman told AFP.

Fats from sewage used for soap? I am beginning to believe I might have to make my own soaps from now on.

Brain Fart

Well, I meant to take my bike down to the cities with me when I took The Fuskers™ to “The Wolverine.” But, due to Post Acute Withdrawal I spaced it out. Oh well. Erik’s Bike Shops (Once known as Erik The Bike Man) are open until 9:00 PM, so I can plan a run tonight or tomorrow night. If I feel up to the trip.

As for this morning; I have a doctor’s appointment. I am seeing an allergist. Today is test for allergies day. I am being mentally stubborn about this whole allergy concept. I am unwilling to accept that it is possible I have allergies. I still believe my allergy symptoms were the result of my severe bacterial sinus infection. Since my treatment by antibiotic sinus rinse has appeared to work, I am not experiencing the symptoms. I have, thought, experienced sinus pain now that they are clear.

Anyway, hope the best for me this morning.

Update: I forgot; The Wolverine was good. But mostly because Hugh Jackman is such a superb actor. And they had a good staple of Japanese actors that could hold their own. I recommend it, though to really understand what is happening you have had to see the past X-Men movies.

2013 Tour De Rook – Leg 15

To the stats!

  1. Miles: 23.42Tour_Rook
  2. Time: 1:35.26
  3. Max Speed: 25.9 mph
  4. Average Speed: 14.7 mph
  5. iPod:
    1. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
    2. Eagles – Hotel California
    3. Cold Play – Parachutes
  6. Temperature: 73°F
  7. Wind: W 8 mph
  8. Humidity: 53%

I did another extended leg. This time though I headed for Sandstone and then caught the Willard Munger State Trail just west and south of Sandstone. It was a good run. Unfortunately my rear tire decided to develop an air bubble. It did not tear off, it did not rip open, but it needs to be replaced. I am going to take it down to Eric’s Bike Shop in Burnsville/Apple Valley, where I bought the bike and always have it serviced. Hopefully the tire is under warranty. If not, oh well, they are relatively inexpensive.

2013 Tour De Rook – Leg 14

To the stats!

  1. Miles: 30.08Tour_Rook
  2. Time: 2:03.54
  3. Max Speed: 19.2 mph
  4. Average Speed: 14.5 mph
  5. iPod: LOTR Movie Soundtracks
  6. Temperature: 64°F
  7. Wind: N 12 mph
  8. Humidity: 64%

As you can see, I went on an extended leg today. I made it all the way to Moose Lake and back. However, I took many breaks, for breakfast, stretching, and a snack. I actually did not push myself as hard as I could have, knowing that I was going on a long ride. And yet, I managed a very good average speed – for me.

For breakfast I had a half of a #1 at Peggy Sue’s Cafe. It consisted of one egg – basted – half an order of hash-browns, two slices of bacon, and one slice of toast. It was the perfect size meal for the start of my run. I stretched on at least 3 occasions. I also hit the bathroom in Moose Lake, where I also bought a bottle of water to replenish my supply, and because I always buy something when I use a restroom at a gas station. Finally, on the way back I once again stopped at Peggy Sue’s for an order of deep fried breaded mushrooms.

As to listening to the Lord of the Rings soundtracks; I managed to get through the first two and halfway through “The Return of the King;” right up to the start of “The Ride of the Rohirrim.”

Weather wise, I started out with a partly cloudy sky, about half and half. By the time I got to Willow River and Peggy Sue’s it was becoming overcast, with only a few breaks in the clouds. And by Moose Lake it was completely overcast. The temperature was 55° and a wind out of the north at 10 mph when I left the house. The stats about for weather are for when I got home.

2013 Tour De Rook – Leg 13

To the stats!

  1. Miles: 4.60Tour_Rook
  2. Time: 19.34
  3. Max Speed: 17.4 mph
  4. Average Speed: 14.1 mph
  5. iPod: REM – Out of Time
  6. Temperature: 55°F
  7. Wind: N 6 mph
  8. Humidity: 88%

Halfway to Willow River and back. I only had time for a short run. So I decided to keep it within 20 minutes. I at least generated a sweat and got my heart beat up. Now it is time for a shower and then off to work!

Simple Thoughts

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

I’d like to think that as a counselor what I do speaks so loudly that my clients don’t need to hear what I say!

New Additions!

So, my HDTV died. It is an off brand I never heard of (SANSUI), but it was on sale. Lasted just long enough to get past the warranty. I ordered a Samsung-46″ LED – 1080p – 120Hz – Smart HDTV. I am going to go pick it up myself. However, it may not fit in the back seat of my Ford Focus, so I might instead pick it up when I pick up some furniture I am getting from the Ex-GirlFriend™ tomorrow. She managed some new stuff and I would like to have more than just two recliners.

For The Record……

No, I will not go back to smoking marijuana if it becomes legal.

(truthout) But there is a populist revolt brewing. Beginning with state legalization of marijuana use for easing medical pain, the movement to fully decriminalize pot has picked up steam as the voters of Washington and Colorado approved an end to marijuana prohibition.

As with many trends, California is pointing the way. Doug Fine, author and rancher, detailed how the de facto tolerance for marijuana farms and use in Mendocino County is likely a harbinger for a new green economic revolution in the United States: a legalized pot industry.

However, I still believe it should be legal. It is not a harmless drug, by a long shot. Yet, it is far less harmful than alcohol, which directly (i.e., by using it, not by violence associated with selling) kills more people than all the other drugs combined.

Update: Edited to eliminate redundancies. Oh, and because I am an anal-retentive perfectionist.

Only A Stoner!

(RS) A Michigan man on Tuesday was surprised to find a pipe loaded with marijuana inside a Burger King Kids Meal for his 4-year-old grandson.

“He handed the kid’s meal that he had gotten at Burger King to his 4-year-old grandson and when they opened it up they found a loaded marijuana pipe inside the kid’s meal,” police told Toledo News Now.

Yup. I remember those days. Good thing my ass was attached to the rest of my body back when marijuana was a staple of my life, or I would have left it in a bag as well.

Actually, when I was in the Navy, down at the Nuclear Power Training Facility in Orlando, a friend and I once got so stoned that we hide an ounce of marijuana we had just purchased in a floor speaker that he had in his van. We were so stoned that we both forgot it was there. We figured we traveled on and off the base for months with that bag in the speaker. In fact we drove from the Orlando base all the way up the East Coast to Massachusetts without realizing it was there. Not until we actually set up his speakers in the house we were renting did we discover it!

Science Backs My Suspicions!

(RS) A study at University College London in the UK has found that conservatives’ brains have larger amygdalas than the brains of liberals. Amygdalas are responsible for fear and other “primitive” emotions. At the same time, conservatives’ brains were also found to have a smaller anterior cingulate — the part of the brain responsible for courage and optimism.

I always thought Conservatives were cowards!