Solo Christmas 43 on SART

 Solo ride but man did it feel tough. Is it me or is it always freaking windy all the time now? Well, some hanky panky last night surely took some out of the legs and really hard getting out of bed this morning. I almost stayed home but didn't ride on Christmas Eve day having it off. Gina had to work and I should have rode but a rain forecast later in the day, I got lazy and just lay around all day.

But today, a 43 and it seemed windy both ways but again, maybe just the legs. After the ride, I saw Pastor Sammy at the parking lot of the train station. I didn't recognize him with a hoodie on cleaning his bike. But later he came over and we say hey! Little bit of chat as I asked him how his ride was and he said he had to ride hoping to keep up with us younger guys. Ok ha ha ha, he's 46, I believe is what he said so I told him I was 61. Nice guy said he didn't think I was over 50. Ok, Pastor Sammy can't lie in front of God ha ha ha! SO I guess it's true and now you're reading it on the net.

But he did want to say a prayer as we got ready to part ways. He did put his arm around me as usual when he prays. I do appreciate it but since it was only us two, I figured it would be a quickie. Wrong ha ha ha! I think he went on for about 7 minutes. Though I appreciate it, I'm sure it looks kind of funny to the other people around, a couple of big guys holding each other in the parking lot ha ha ha! He says some good stuff and I appreciate it, it's all good ha ha ha! I was struggling to keep my footing a time or two feeling like I was going to stumble trying to hold still with his arm wrapped around me ha ha ha! Honestly though, I appreciate the prayers since he mentioned  a few things about Gina and her departed sons. So like I said, it's all good!

But like I said, it was rough but I made it. Better than sitting around all day doing nothing wasting a day off work, paid ha ha ha!

Then went to dinner with Gina and Cecee, my MIL, AKA The Grinch. She doesn't believe much in celebrating or decorating for Christmas so it was actually kind of boring and plain.  Next year, I'm doing something for sure, this was a little too plain. I wanted to make tamales but again, she's the Grinch ha ha ha!

And you know what, it's Christmas so I'm going to eat some ice cream! Been doing very well over the last 3 month so yeah, ice cream! I'll be taking another A1C blood test in the next couple weeks so I'm betting it will be much better. I think this is the first time eating ice cream in the last 3 months so I think I deserve at least one day ha ha ha!

The 57 heading South near Pathfinder. Wish it was like this on weekday mornings when I'm heading to work in Brea.

Nice skies!

Yorba Park area. Wow, I was chilling wearing my windbreaker and tights. Not bad but wish she had some boobs so I could see just how chilly she actually was ha ha ha!

1 pm at the coast. Looked like it was almost sunset. Darn time change!

After the ride, poser playing with my clamp and swivel ball phone holder thingy.

Gina at the salad bar and an unmistakable green glow through the glass, The Grinch!

Gina with a 6 oz steak and baked potato. I had mashies.

My Honey!

Near Death Experience & Jose at Liberty Park Cyclist Support Station

 A really stressful week after taking one of those colon home tests. Kaiser suggested I take one and usually do every year. This year was different though, I got the results back testing positive. Blood in my system. Holy shit! So I worry all week about what might happen, am I going to die? Will they tell me that I am taken over by cancer, I dunno, never had any procedures done or really any problem other than having to watch my sugar. Never and operation or broken bone, never been in the hospital. So knowing they want me to do the colonoscopy, I have no idea what I'm in for thinking I'm already dead.

They call me at work on Thursday morning at about 6:30 suggesting I do the procedure. I'm thinking it must be important if they're rushing me like this, suggesting I do it on Saturday, a quick 2 days later. OK, I guess. Really didn't want to butt I don't want to have to worry about it so I agreed. Right away I was relieved even before the procedure. Couple nurses told me that they hate those home tests because rather than eliminating those that don't need the procedure, it seems the many false positive results they produce, more people get called in and they usually find nothing wrong. Then saying unless one has a pretty good history of cancer, the results are usually good.

So they took me in and right away, the doc put my mind at ease. Saying the same thing then with twilight sleep stuff, I was able to see the procedure on the monitor. Wow, I was pleased at how sweet my hole looked ha ha ha! Seriously, they found one small polyp that was easily removed and the doc said all was great. Received my results via email, other than that, I'm good......for another 10 years!

So Sunday, I did a 25 miler not knowing what to expect after the procedure. Would I get sick from the sleep stuff? What the saddle work its way up my ass? Ha ha ha I don't know but I felt great! No effects or traces of the procedure. Other than everyone around me being sick, work and home, I finally got a little but on Wednesday. Felt like I was going to get a sore throat, but not really. Then a slight nose run but not much then felt great through Saturday and the procedure. But then woke up Sunday morning without much of a voice, dang it. No discomfort, just no voice so I guess I can't complain.

So I might sound a little funny in the video. But only have to work Monday then off for a couple more Christmas days, I'll ride ha ha ha!

So today was a good 25 miler trying not to go too hard but felt great. Ran into Jose again at Liberty Park starting up his cyclist support station. Nice guy and always fun to chat with him.

So I guess I don't have to worry about dying. Did put a few thoughts in my head though but I dodged death this time ha ha ha! I remember a guy that I worked with 30 years ago, Andrew Fuggins. Said he was some kind of a high priest in some kind of religion, maybe he was just nuts but he said he could tell us, guys in the workforce, how we were going to die. He gave others details then I asked about myself. He said that the only thing that could kill Mr. Beanz, was Mr. Beanz himself. I asked what he meant and he said that only I could do myself in, but something like cancer or other illness that would take me but by me. Sorry Mr. Beanz, not this time and damn, I feel great and a big ease on my mind reminding me how great my life is and how lucky I am to be this way, feeling great in all aspects of life!

Yes, I have a beautiful hole ha ha ha!

Having fun and enjoying life with Gina after some good news.

Making the best out of my hospital socks, good for pumping up the tires ha ha ha!

Red hospital socks good for something, pumping up the tires ha ha ha!

I did have to fast almost all day prior and the morning of. Sadly our Christmas party at work was catered. Ribs, steak, chicken, potatoes, sweets but I couldn't eat at all so I just watched everybody.

Sunday Post Christmas 🎄 Party

 Solo 25 at 16.0 average speed.  Pico to Liberty Park and back.  Settled for 25 because I really didn't feel like riding today.  Tough getting out of bed but then felt great on the bike.  Really thinking the electrolytes were holding me back during the non sweat months.  Last couple of rides,  just water and feeling great 👍 

Did run into a dude at Liberty Park named Jose. Hard to forget that name seeing 8 out of every 10 Hispanic guys I know,  are named Jose. 😄 

But a cool guy who claims to be friends with Omar who runs the Chalan rest stop. But Jose says he used to operate a couple bike shops in recent years but gave it up. So he's starting a little gig at Liberty Park on Saturday and Sundays doing repairs etc. Selling glasses and other swag it seems.  Pretty cool friendly guy. It was a pleasure. 

Then to Sizzler after the ride with Gina. She offered up Lucille's but I had to resist after thinking about it,  back and forth.  Well heck, eating like that is what got me into this mess in the first place. 

Feeling pretty dang good over last couple of months,  don't want to fail now.  Awesome feeling dropping a couple of notches on the belt, going to maintain as I'm too old now to risk my health over tasty goodies. Heck, feeling too awesome on the bike. So Sizzler is just about right,  small steak and about a cup of potatoes or rice,  I alternate,  is perfect.  

But I really need to get on my horse and start using the dumbells. Looking in the mirror today after my shower,  I saw how puny my arms looked.  Haven't worked out in years but I really need to start before the young dudes start trying to steal my lunch money.  

Not going to be able to protect myself with tiny little arms like this. 😄

Been years but I think there may still be hope for these tiny little old man arms. Hoping at 61, I might be able to rebuild at least a little bit of old man muscle. 

Christmas Party, No Ride

 No ride today, Gina has her company Christmas party at the Double Tree so I decided to take the morning off having worked so hard at work all week ha ha ha! Went to breakfast at a different Casa Jimenez in La Puente. The Claremont location we frequented for 25 years closed down due to a lease dispute.

Pretty stupid I think. The last location was vacated for the same reason which was Garey and Rt 66. That building today is still vacant with a lease sign on it after 15 years. So with the greedy stupid building owner of the Claremont building, I hope they remain vacant as well seeing what they have done.  Husband and wife getting greeting during divorce so they want more money for the two of them so they severely raised the rate putting these people out of jobs, really sucks. So I hope the owners suffer ha ha ha!

Found this new location after trying about 4 others, this is the second best so far and luckily, very local. But still, though close, not the same tasty food we've grown to enjoy.  But it will have to do though I just don't have a desire TO GO there. I will just to get a hint of what I used to enjoy.  We'll see, maybe we'll grow to enjoy it more. The food just isn't the same quality, couple of bucks more expensive, and the salsa ain't the same. :-(

But, a good morning need a quick meal fix for now. Really strange here in LA county, the Mexican food actually sucks but maybe the taco trucks have taken all the good supplies ha ha ha! Of course, a taco truck on every corner, actually about 5 or 6 on every corner, darn Mexicans ha ha ha!

Working too hard at work ha ha ha!

Ha! My $2 per week allowance adds up quickly.  So I do get to carry a little chump change in my pockets during the week. 

Awesome Sauce Sunday

 Another 25 from Pico to the Santa Fe Dam Nature Center and back.  No liquid IV today and I felt great.  

I mention this again after feeling sick on a couple of rides realizing I was overdosing on electrolytes.  Too much sodium and other electrolytes.  Not utilizing them seeing it has been rather cool and I'm not much of a sweat dripping type of guy. 75 degrees,  40 miles and not a drop of sweat yesterday.  Another 25 today and still no sweat. 

Type of guy I am so after all the eliminations, breakfast stuff,  granola bars, energy bars, all I can figure is I was getting way too much sodium and other stuff my body wasn't utilizing. 

Today,  no liquid IV and I felt great again as I did yesterday.  Yesterday I had one bottle over the 40 miles and felt great as well. Maybe a 2 minute threat of feeling nausea after the ride but still felt great. I think I might go half packet doses if anything till the heat here in Cali kicks back up to triple digits again. 

Lesson learned and hopefully others learn from my experience and cheesy little blog. 😄

So today a great ride though I didn't see many riders. And only like one chick on the dam. 

Gave me a chance to test my clamp, swivel arm, swivel ball mounts with my cell cam holding fixture.  All aluminum stuff from ebay.  Really happy with it being able to hit all angles. 

Just some innocent dude falling prey to my camera as I was setting it up clamped to a fence. 😁

                                                       Video from Saturday's 40 mile ride

Favorite t shirt

This is my 3rd, wore out 2 already. Always comments and kudos from people that see me wearing it. At the mall, work, wherever, always have fun with it. Just got my 3rd so wore it to work getting lots of smiles and comments again ha ha ha!