April 2003

I have been so lazy on my computer lately. I haven’t been answering e-mail, I haven’t written in my blog. I’ve been busy wasting brain cells on the American Idol messageboards. But now I’m taking the opportunity to catch up on my blog and to catch up on my e-mail.

Earl and I are sitting at Green Lakes State Park outside of Syracuse. We’ve decided to start a new Easter tradition this year. We’re going to celebrate Easter, and the arrival of spring, with a picnic at a park for our Easter dinner. Just the two of us. In the past, with the exception of last year, we’ve gone away for Easter. One year we went to Boston and ended up eating Easter dinner at a Boston Market outside of Springfield, Mass. Last year we had Easter dinner at my Dad’s with his girlfriend Karen, and that was very enjoyable and delicious. I don’t think we’re being selfish by going off on our own, and I hope the families understand.

Yesterday we did something that I haven’t done since I was a kid. We started off the day at my Dad’s store and had lunch with him and my aunt and uncle. Initially I had planned on biking up there, but Mother Nature felt we needed the rain, so I turned around after 15 miles or so, covered in mud, soaked to the bone and mad. So we drove up instead.

We then drove to Syracuse Airport and sat in the Observation Area for two hours watching planes and gets land and take off. I haven’t done that in years. It was so much fun! And Earl said that he was enjoying himself as well, he found it very relaxing. Last night, I did some research on the internet, and found that there’s tons of people that do Plane Spotting, and I found that quite exciting. We did watch two planes land when we were in Phoenix last month, and it piqued my interest then, it just increased my interest yesterday at Syracuse Airport. I think I’m going to practice my photography while I’m plane spotting in the future. I hope to do it again soon.

So now we’re at Green Lakes State Park any enjoying the spring. There’s a woman at the next picnic table over that laughs like a loon. It’s kind of cute! At least she fits in with the wildlife.

I’ve been working hard at cycling the past week. I rode to work everyday with the exception of Thursday (because I had to pick Earl up from work – his truck was getting fixed.) I feel great and I’m growing much more confident on the new bike. I’m looking forward to the long ride coming up in May and then The Ride For Missing Children on May 16. If you wish to donate, drop me a line and I’ll send you the information on how you can.

Physically, I’ve been feeling wonderful. Today marks the year anniversary that I began my weight loss. A year ago today I was 27 pounds heavier. Yesterday I started the Slim-Fast plan again – I’m going to do it for a couple of weeks to jup start my metabolism because my weight has creeped up a little bit in the past couple of weeks. I had initially lost 34 pounds, but seven pounds somehow crept back on.

Spiritually I’ve been feeling great as well. I think I’ve cleaned a bunch of cobwebs or something out of my head because I’ve felt much more “tuned in” the past week or so. It’s important to keep your mind clear and focused. Positive thoughts.

All in all, today is quite the beautiful day. Earl and I have just enjoyed a delicious Easter picnic, the sky is clear and sunny, temperatures are in the mid 70s. And Earl and I are having a wonderful time talking, relaxing and just being together.

We wrapped up our Easter trip with a little ride and then a stop at Friendly’s. I haven’t had ice cream in a long time.

Life is wonderful.

That’s right folks, the spring is back in my step. I haven’t done very well answering e-mails lately because I’ve been enjoying the weather. Today it reached 75 degrees and tomorrow it’s suppose to be warmer!

It’s official, I’m a bicycling commuter again. Rode the bike to work for the second time this season, and I plan on doing it again tomorrow. It was chilly this morning, 29 degrees when I set out, but with a pair of sweat pants and an extra jacket I was ready for the ride. It went pretty well and I was quite energized at work throughout the day. You could say that my mood was cheery. When I got home Earl and I had to pick up the car, which was in the garage again, and then we had a nice healthy dinner at a local restaurant. I of course added Peanut Butter pie to the healthy dinner and quickly paid for it when my stomach rumbled it’s distaste for the extra sugar. Oh well.

Now as I speak it’s a beautiful moonlit night. So of course I had to do the logical thing. Take down the outside Christmas lights. It’s suppose to be 85 tomorrow, let’s not have the Christmas lights still up!

This past weekend was a good one – Earl and I went to Buffalo on a scenic little journey. Did a little shopping and eating. Sunday I rode my old bike training circuit to get back in the swing of things. I think I’m starting to get used to the clipless pedals. For those not familiar with these pedals, I have a cleat on the bottom of each of my cycling shoes. The cleats snap in, securing my feet to the pedals. Theoretically, I should be faster as I’m transferring more power to the pedals because my feet aren’t sliding around, and I’m getting power on the “up” as well as the “down”. This is true, I am more efficient and I feel more at “one with with the bike”. However, it’s not good to be “at one with the bike” when the bike is coming to a stop. You can’t just lift your feet up to unhook your shoes from the pedals, you must twist your heel outward. So I’ve fallen a few times, usually with an audience! But I think I’m getting the hang of it. Slowly.

Now I think I’m going to go for a little walk around the yard on this beautiful night, ready myself for the bike ride tomorrow and call it a night.

Here it is Thursday this week and I’m still suffering from Jet Lag. Now Earl and I didn’t go anywhere mind you. We didn’t jet off to some exotic location for fun and frolic…

No, we switched from ‘Standard Time’ to ‘Daylight Time’.

Like most people, I do enjoy sunlit summer evenings, however, I do not adjust well to Daylight Time. My body just refuses to adjust and I end up dragging through the morning until about noon, which is really 11 a.m. Then I’m wide awake at midnight because it’s really 11 p.m. and then I can’t wake up in the morning again and it’s a vicious cycle.

So I’ve been grumpy. Except today, I’ve been in a pretty good mood and am cranking through the day here at work. I’m actually looking forward to a bike ride tonight. It’s sunny and 50 degrees as I type. Not exactly ideal cycling weather, but it’ll do. I really need to get training for “The Ride For Missing Children.” By the way, if you wish to donate, please drop me a line.

Earl’s in Buffalo but is expected home this evening. It might kind of late when he gets back, but it’ll be a welcomed sight.

I can’t believe how fast time is flying by this week. Here it is Wednesday night already and I feel like the week has just begun. It must be a blessing to be so busy that I don’t realize how fast the day goes by. Maybe it’s a curse because life is passing me by. Who knows.

I got a new toy in the mail today – the Microsoft Office System Beta 2 Kit 2003. It is awesome. If you’re a regular Microsoft Office user, you need to upgrade when the finished product of the latest version comes out.

I admit that I’ve become very hooked on American Idol. Now I’m participating on the message boards. I can’t believe that I, a 34 year old man, is arguing with a 14 year old girl about who’s hotter, Josh or Clay, but there you are. By the way, I think it’s Josh that’s hotter. Actually, I’m offering my well thought out opinions as a former Top 40 Radio Station Program Director. Yeah, that’s it.

Since it’s Wednesday night, it’s also “The West Wing” night, which I must admit I’ve found to be quite disappointing this season. Tonight Air Force One can’t land for some reason. Let’s see how that pans out.