Bike Ride

Hello,

Yesterday at work I learned that I was not working on Tuesday this week, but on Saturday. Luckily I noticed it then. It makes Tuesday seem like a gift day off even though I will be working the usual number of hours. After tai chi a bike ride in the relative coolness of the morning seemed like a brilliant idea.

I rode to the bike trial to Cedar Lake where a gaggle of geese were on the path and around it. I decided to go the opposite direction from these 50 or so birds. Another group of about 20 was swimming farther along. Then there was another smaller group. Were they just preparing to go out to where ever they go or getting a drink? As I headed north the wild or tame flowers are so nice. It is a spirit lifting experience.

A young man and his young daughter were riding together with a third wheel attached to his bike. They passed me. Seemed to me I should have been stronger, but I was enjoying my time. Later I passed them on some playground equipment. When I came on the homeward trek, I spotted them alongside the trail. I realized there were black raspberry bushes there. I stopped, exclaimed about it, and commented that the bushes looked almost dried up at which point they shared a few berries with me. The man then pointed out there were some on the other side of the trail. They picked some and said they had to be going. I went over and savored each berry as I popped it into my mouth. Such a bust of flavor!

A young man came a long carrying a fishing pole. I told him about the berries and offered some to him. He said, “That is ok, I picked some in a more woodsy area so I am full.”

“How is fishing?” I wanted to know as this is Iowa’s only urban trout stream.

“I see a lot of fish, but they are hard to catch. The water is shallow and clear so they see me and stay away,” he sighed, “but I will try some more.”

I only went a total of 8.21 miles but saw the world.

Paula

Pride Before Fall

Hello,

Pride goes before a fall. Or something like that is the saying I have heard much of my life. Not sure what there is to learn from it. Does it mean do not be proud or you will fall?

I might be proud of my fitness, but no longer. I do know that I do not do as much as I did when I was younger. However, now I am not sure I can keep up with the old people.

In the AARP magazine there was a small article about jump-starting your fitness. Featured in this was a 15-minute workout. It involved doing three gradually more challenging sets of seven moves. The first set had 30 sec. of jumping jacks. I did not time myself, but counted assuming that I might do one a second. At number 12 jumping jack I took a little break, again a break at 20 before I was able to get to 30. A fifteen second plank was a piece of cake as was the eight body-weight squats. Six modified push-ups required a rest break in the middle. Six lunges per leg was not a problem as was the 15 sec. of mountain climbing. Then the slow 30 second walk was like a rest. I managed to do the second set complete with the additional time or repetitions. However the third set remains a mystery. And this is for old people? Where do I fit? Where is my fitness? I will try this again just for my heart and bones. I know that I am fooling myself about being fit. That must be some other person.

Leroy tried it this morning and he seemed to do better than I especially on the push-ups. Jealous, jealous I am! Especially since I have felt that I am doing more than he does. Falling, falling!

Paula

Ordinary Life

Hello,

Leroy and I are doing just regular things: weeding, riding bikes, taking walks, reading books, and eating lots of fresh produce. Fruits are so plentiful for purchase this time of year. We “pig out”. It is one of the best perks of summer. I only bought mushrooms, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas when at the store. It is a wonderful thing to know that most of my vegetables needs are met in the garden.

I am also so happy when I walk around and see all of the interesting flowers in the neighborhood. This morning on my walk to mail a letter I made a detour just so I could drink in the beauty of a front yard. I suspect some of you might not consider it beautiful as it had more than a few weeds and quite a random feel to it. There were a number of lilies tucked in there so it had great color. Last night on the bike trail we spotted some nice orange flowers that I do not remember seeing before. They are quite appealing. The bike trail has quite a nice variety of wild flowers or perhaps they were planted and just flourish on their own power.

Leroy and I are so happy that it is raining today. The community garden needs that. We planted some seeds in anticipation of this rain. It seems they should grow now.

We had hoped to take a long bike ride, but I do not know that we will get that done because of the rain. On Wednesday we are leading a church group bike ride. I had hoped to have my bottom toughened up by now. But it is still quite sensitive.

We have an expiring coupon for a 50 cent movie so that is what we will be doing tonight, if we can agree on a movie that we would both like to watch. It could be just one of us watching.

Paula

Library as a community force

Hello,

At the end of the day, staff who close the library note the day’s attendance. Monday was busy, but yesterday 190 people passed by the ticker in the short seven hours we were open. I did not run in and out several times to make it more. There was a popular children’s program that involved about 70+ and we have reading support that also involves a number of people. No wonder I felt tired at the end of the day.

Most of the children are good, but there were three boys who were running, shouting, and feeling like it was the great outdoors. I excused myself from the people at the desk and intercepted one preschooler, told him in a stern voice about no running, and pointing at the floor “you must stop and sit here”. This kid whom I did not recognize looked about ready to cry or perhaps it was abject terror. I back pedaled just a little and said in a softer voice, “We do not run in the library and you must sit here one minute. I will tell you when you can get up.” Later he did seem quite comfortable around me.

I got to the other boy about the same time as his mother. These people I do know. I think I would have been more effective on my own, but there was no wild running for the rest of the day.

One thing about these days I get very little cataloging done, but time evaporates in an instant. No moaning about being bored. I also had three people sign up for library cards. That task takes a little more time than ordinary. When is school going to start? No I do not mean that as we are in existence just because of the use that we get. However the first week of school gives us a great time to collect our scattered thoughts and pens.

Paula

Bike Ride

Hello,

After a hearty breakfast of steel cut oats with banana, strawberries, pear, flax seed, chia seed, and cinnamon, Leroy and I rested before getting on our bikes. We headed off in the direction of Ely, but I did not think I was ready for such a long drive. I have only ridden about four times this summer. There was a day when I might have ridden 25-26 miles without practice, but not now.

I will say that I like that bike trail to Ely because it goes along the river and in the trees most of the way. It is just so pleasant. Many people also use it. I am a bit concerned that there will be a major accident because so many people ride so fast, pass so quickly, and ride two deep while talking and looking at the person next to them.

Leroy and I usually are one after the other. Leroy was definitely stronger than I. Keeping up with him took quite a lot of effort for me. I am still impressed at how many places advertize a home for sale on the bike trail. Leroy commented it would be great for us. We could both ride bikes to work. If we knew we would stay in this area, it would be something we could look at.

By the time we got home we had ridden 16 miles. My bottom was complaining a bit as it has not sat in this position for such a long time. I will get out on the bike more frequently.

We saw rabbits, squirrel, chipmunks, robins, and one turkey that marched across in front of us. Then there were plenty of wild flowers. It was a lovely ride.

Paula

More of Life Changes

Hello,

My brother-in-law died July 1. This is Leroy’s sister’s husband. Both Leroy and I are finding it a bit difficult to deal with this additional change in life.

I would never have thought that two people in our family would die so close in time to each other. I wonder is this a new phase in life where people closer to my age die? How have people dealt with this?

Paula

Those Rabbits

Hello,

They were the cutest little rabbits when they first hopped around the yard. Even the second time they brought smiles to the lips. However all smiling is done now. They have stripped the small lilies that a friend shared with me. They have eaten lettuce, peppers and some eggplant in our front garden. For some reason the front garden is what they call home. Today I put up some netting in a small attempt to keep them out.

At least they have not liked the kohlrabi. We have eaten two of them and I picked a third. Leroy, like the rabbits, is not so taken with this vegetable, but I like it. He liked the dish I made yesterday with the leaves. The one I picked today has leaves that are not so desirable. Leroy did tell me that yesterday he toasted bread, applied mustard and put the kohlrabi on top. That was more to his taste.

A feral cat lived under the deck last year. Rabbits might have been her food as I never saw any rabbits until I no longer saw the cat. Amazing that I think those cats might be useful in a checks and balances kind of way. One woman at the end of our block told me she feeds them and even puts out shelter in the winter time. Perhaps that is where our cat moved, seeking more care.

I am trying to read a 500 page book in four days. It is for the book club. So I can remember what I read, I like to wait until the last week before I read the selection, but this time I should have started sooner. The trouble was that I was reading another good book that I wanted to finish; The Secrets of a Charmed Life. Now I am going to be racing to complete, All the Light We Cannot See, before Sunday. I like this book as well and hope to be finished so I can participate more fully in the conversation about it. It always adds to my appreciation when I hear the comments of others.

Paula