Finished uploading a bunch of Flickr pictures taken on my Columbia (SC) trip. Nothing spectacular, though you’ll probably figure out that I like clouds (says the USAF vet).

First, some housekeeping. The above statue pix featured in this entry is from Stanford University, not UCB. Had I been a responsible blogger, I’d have linked the original picture back to the source web page and you would have seen where I got my information. Even so, my blog, therefore my bad. Here’s the same pix with others from the Stanford 1906 Earthquake site. Thanks for the sharp eye and the link, Aunt Lily, and I’ll be more careful next time.

And now, an old friend.

That’s my mileage for 2008, a fair indicator of my lack of biking mojo. No excuses or reasons to offer; I’ve been neglectful towards my health, gained weight, and lacked the motivation to do anything about it. Today was a little different as I did three miles before work and 3.5 miles afterwards, so hopefully I’m emerging from my funk. Another motivator is I’m getting my old bike, Dollar, cleaned up and I plan to ride it more.

Dollar is an Trek bike that weighs a ton compared to my lightweight Giant (codenamed Buster) and there’s actual exercise involved when moving from Point A to B. The Giant just sort of mosies along, which is good for the status quo but not for shaping and firming. Because of uncontrollable work-related events, I won’t get to the Trek riding until July but I’m eager to start when I can.

Now if I could get someone to go riding with me. Not mentioning any names…

Here’s the new sign over my office door. Fees not applied if you are a FOB (Friend of Bubba).

The Bride and I are at the Lake. Working on some pix. Here’s a sample.

Was taking a nice ride this foine, foine Sunday afternoon when I noticed dark clouds over Douglas County to the south. Folks who’ve lived here for a while will tell you that bad weather usually comes up from the South, but I wasn’t too bothered because it’s happened a thousand times and nothing comes of it. Also, the National Weather Service issued this recent bulletin:

March and April of 2008 have been extremely dry. Only 0.07 inch of precipitation was recorded at the Reno-Tahoe international airport during March. During April only a trace of precipitation was recorded. Total precipitation during these two months averages 1.21 inches.

I was plugging along westbound on College Parkway to pick up chocolate when it dawned on me the winds from the north and west had died down, and were now from the south and getting colder. Those dark clouds from earlier were closer and dumping moisture over the foothills to the far southeast (you really can see forever from around here). I did my shopping at the former Albertsons and decided to head home. If it turned out to be nothing, I mulled, there was nothing preventing me from going out later.

Good choice, as you’ll see after the jump.

Proceed at your own risk »

This was one of those long bike-riding kind of days despite ten miles yesterday and cavorting late last night at the soon-to-be-in-laws in Spanish springs (north of Sparks). Soooo much good company and excellent food there (*burp*).

Anyway, just posted this morning to Bike Journal:
EB to Gold Dust West Casino
WB Hwy 50 to SB Saliman
EB Fairview to Prison Hill
NB Edmonds to NB Airport Rd
Back streets to WB Long
SB Mountain to Home (12.92 miles)

I wish there were decent pix for you but my photo mojo was absent.

And my second home looks like it’s finally about ready to open. I may never leave if they get WiFi. (after the jump)

Proceed at your own risk »

Unclear on the concept on the use of a bicycle lock.

Appropriately seen through a dirty windshield.

Just got back from cruising the neighborhood:

Blog entries that start with “sorry I’ve been away” win the Grasping the Obvious Award, so let’s skip that. I will say that No Safe Place has fallen on the wayside since my job responsibilities have increased and the middle part of the semester is piling on. The upside about the former is the pay for the extra hours (nice!) and the latter means we’re on the downward slope of the school year. It helps, too, that the grading is practically up-to-date and it’s Test Week for all of my classes.

On top of everything else, I’m filling out forms to go back to grad school in the Fall. Why, you ask, especially since I’m getting to a time in my life where degrees don’t matter as much as the 26+ years in my profession. Uh…good question, especially after my last time at the Little University on the Hill and the time/money it takes to get a graduate degree. Especially the money. The best answer “because it is there” and it’s the hole in my resume that bugs me the most. Maybe I’ll get a better answer once I’m back in class.

Like every blogger in the world, I’ve an opinion about the economy (excrement -> rotating air circulator) and politics (Clinton campaign = amateur hour) and the war (bring them home), but I just got back from a five-mile ride in perfect weather under blue skies. The IQ is down and the endorphins are up. It’s a good day.

The pile of dirt is for Scott who might have problems getting this picture unless he’s sneaky. The folks over at Nevada State Prison don’t like cameras on the grounds (for obvious reasons) but I don’t think they’d mind a pix from their parking lot of the big pile of dirt that’ll block their view of the mountains. This is the freeway extension where it’ll go over Fifth Street. You can’t see them but there’s a whole bunch of heavy construction equipment compressing this dirt and, according to the gatehouse, they’re working around the clock to get things done.

Well, back to the grading and maybe another ride later, too.