Work Saturday IT'S A CURSE, I TELL YA !!!

 No ride,  work Saturday instead. Asked Friday afternoon. Initially said no but after the boss explained, OK since I know what's going on!

Being an Inspector/Laser Operator, I've been running a laser welder machine on day shift. Couple of guys on nights also run it and one guy for over 2 years. Many problems with this young generation not paying attention being on the cell phone all day long. Not sure why they put up with lousy employees though they say they have a hard time finding help, good help. So running the machine off and on over the last month and a half (?), the boss noticed the quality of my work. Couple of weeks back, he mentioned that he noticed how detailed I was in my work. Well yeah, I take pride, lots of pride in my work, always have and always been praised for doing anything and everything well. Since I was a child, I have received compliments and comments and described as being a perfectionist. Funny thing, about 5 years ago, ran into my 4th grade teacher at the mall. I was 55 maybe, then he started telling Gina that as a 9 year old child, I always had to have things perfect and organized. I didn't realize that but wow, I guess so.

So yesterday afternoon, the boss asks me to work, I said no thanks then he explained. He said that they had some parts coming up that they needed to get done and that he knows he can count on me to do them right and with high quality. Yeah buddy! He said the guys on nights do lousy work and he doesn't know why they are so bad. He said he wanted me to do the parts and that he wasn't going to allow them to work on the parts knowing they will mess them up and if I do them, they will be right. 

Well yeah, I do 100 to 125 parts a day and all are good. OK, 2 out of 2 weeks were bad, my mistake, I own up to it but that's a pretty good ratio. The other guys do 70 per day and they mess up 25 and scrap another 30 per day, WTH!!!!!

I pay attention to my work and they don't. Maybe a generation thing? I did maybe 1200 parts in 2 weeks with 2, yes only 2 scrapped parts, mistakes. They did maybe 800 with about 90 scrapped parts, WTH!!!!!

So I went in seeing it might rain and I might not be able to ride anyway.  125 employees and I'm one of only maybe10 that were asked to go in. I guess it's a good thing that they notice my work and that the other guys suck ha ha ha!

Anyway, worked 8 then took Gina, her Mom and brother to Millie's in Covina for and early dinner. Been doing well so today was my cheat day. So I added a little individual banana cream pie to m meal. Heck, had to add more holes into my belt so yeah, been doing really well, I deserve a little pie.

Lunch, small turkey sandwich and a cucumber in vinegar.

Ghost town at work today

Ah, the early morning 5:30 am drive into work.

Sunday was wet in the morning so rather than get my bike muddy, I chose to cut my hair. Another homemade haircut ha ha ha. Saving about, 20, 30, or 40 bucks with what they charge nowadays. Wow, I do it for free and actually looks better than most of those that I pay. So I'm happy with my homemade haircut. 

Then Gina and I went to eat and to a movie. Something different as we hadn't been to a movie theatre in like 15 years. Always watch movies at home with surround sound and better popcorn ha ha ha! But wow, very different with the theatre reclining type of seats and the surround sound was cool with the big vibration in the chairs. So it was cool as we were at the Montclair Plaza movie theatre.

Laughlin Road Trip

 First things first, cycling! Saw this on a friend's (Ron) Strava posting. Good one!

Headed out to Laughlin with Gina and Cecee.

Turned a bad situation into a road trip. The water at our complex has been off due to a broken water pipe. City and complex going around about responsibility. So about 3 days it has been affected. 

Screw it, taking off Friday from work not having water to get ready etc. Talked Gina into taking the day was well. Who cares if we're not freshly showered driving to Laughlin?  Stayed at the Edgewater as usual, gave Cecee some money to hit the slots, and we're good. Friday and Saturday night leaving Sunday morning. I actually relaxed most of the time, not a ton of walking or carrying camera cases around, just relaxing. Made my video and ate a few places going off my healthy diet. Oh well, just a couple of days and I didn't overdo it by much vs my usual of eating everything I can get ha ha ha! Got to be smarter, even while cheating.

So Denny's on the way, Bubba Gump just to try it, Casa Serrano, my usual want to eat place. They were ok but nothing great this time. Though the coffee at Denny's Barstow is always great, and I don't even care much for coffee. 

So no riding, just relaxing and having a good time in Laughlin Nevada making another one of my videos. AND, Cecee did win a little bit and brought some home this time so she paid for dinner. I'll take it!

Worst Ride Ever and Chatting with Omar

 Good news meeting Omar on video, coming soon. Bad news, my worst day ever. 15 miles up, not feeling good. Break and granola then meeting Omar and few others but not feeling good. 4 miles before finishing, I stopped feeling strange. Couldn't stand too long, legs felt weak, bright flashing lights, numb face, exhausted shoulders. Moved on another 2 miles, stopped again same feelings. Rolled on after 20 minutes, finished but took me about 30 minutes to feel better. But only after puking my guts out. Then 75% better. I'm guessing the eggs were the only thing that didn't digest. Bad egg maybe seeing it's my usual pre ride meal. Or a serious bonk? Not sure but no more eggs for me. Been eating great too so sad to experience this. And the heart was fine. Solo 35 or so Pico to the base of the Azusa mountains and back.

Stopped for a visit with Omar on the San Gabriel River Trail on my ride yesterday. Omar set up a little rest stop on the trail where many cyclists gather to stock up and socialize. Years ago, we did a ride on the trail when there were no places to get water or supplies. Herb M. was on the ride as well. Hot and dry, we ran across a guy riding a bike pulling a trailer selling Gatorade for $1 a bottle. One of the best $1 investments ever ha ha ha! Since then, it has developed into a very popular much appreciated rest stop where at times, there might be 50 cyclists all gathered at one time enjoying the rest stop.

Omar

The Keto Cyclist

Me before the suffering started ha ha ha!

Puke!!! Plenty of fluids and electrolytes and egg. No granola bar from break time, no corn tortilla that I had with breakfast. Seems only the egg didn't digest so I'm thinking the eggs were bad, not sure but ew!

Fat Bastard Sunday Funday

 Another 20 today.  Windy AH on the return.  ML had told me that there would be Santa Ana winds today,  she saw it on the news. But didn't seem windy at all and I was only doing 20, no biggie. 

Arrived at the start only to find very still flags at the golf ⛳️ course.  Figure I'd head into the wind first then tailwind it back.  But no sign of wind so I headed south. Turn around point at a park and still no sign. 

So I played around at the empty skate park.  Btw, what is so hard doing this on 4 wheels when I can do it on 2, one hand and the second hand on a clicker snapping pics? 😄

So I played for a few minutes then the second I got on my bike to head back   BIG   wind. Leaves  papers, flying by. Think I even saw a cow fly by. 

Windy all the way back but feeling great still after a month of healthy eating.  Big difference . I get tired but no feelings of not making it. Matter of fact,  I feel driven.  See someone up ahead and I feel I can catch vs the feeling of wondering why I'm struggling. 

Heck, I knew I was doing well and feeling good catching 2 separate riders 1/4 mile ahead. One pulled off to the side looking beat and zooming by the other as I push 12.5 mph. Yeah, that windy but feeling strong with no intentions of feeling beat. 😄

Felt so good and proud of myself keeping control,  actually caring enough about my health and avoiding the fancy $100 meals, that I celebrated by picking up a set of Sony noise canceling wireless earphones.  The kind with the big comfortable ear pads for my home laptop.  Gina says I deserve it. Ok, time I start thinking about myself.  😄

I found a penny and as Gina always says, " find a penny pick it up, all day long you'll  have good luck!". So I did find another penny at the mall tonight and as luck would have it, Gina would twist my arms to buy the headphones ha ha ha!

Funny when you go buy something and the cashier asks you if you want to round up the change to donate to St. Jude, you say no then they look at you like you're a cheap bastard. All while wearing a $230 St. Jude donator t shirt. Ha ha ha!

Nice! I use a little 5 inch tripod like this to hold my gopro on rides. Hand held mount to pan and record but my trusty tripod that I have used for the last several,, maybe 6 years lost one of the little balls on the legs so it sticks into the material of my jersey at times. I hate to ditch it but don't want to tear up my jersey pockets too much. So looking on ebay, I see them for $11 each but ran across one store that sells them 5 black for $10 or 2 red for $6. What a deal, I bought the black 5 pack and 2 black packso I'm set for a while. Cool little tripod I can use as a handheld or place on a rock, fence, etc type recording.

Too cool all this little stuff. ebay store    pousch-outlet