Ate slash ate 2019

The frustration cup runneth over. What a disgusting world we live in BTW. Good hard-working people with the greatest of intentions are smothered every day attempting valiantly to make a difference and end up guess where?

In the toilet of commode.

Hold the paper.

I completed the last and final leg yesterday afternoon motoring up I-45 from H-town and it was warm.

Coming up the outside cabin emperature was fluctuating between 41 and 45° C and upon arrival the casa upstairs set a new record of 37 and downstairs a cool 34. Coming in from 39 (outside) it seemed cool at first but that didn’t last long. There was no ac at all and last night at 9:00 when it was finally turned on with free electric sleeping was a true luxury.

Acclimating all day today was not so bad. I was up early for the cool part of the day and decided to get in two (2)-a-day workout having missed a couple AND a long GDR after a rest day on Saturday.

Try not to be too confused just hang in.

I did the 40k ride first and took a half-hour break on the picnic table in the shade before doing the 24k.

The total was only 40 miles and the 24k was less than one (1) hour by five (5) seconds which was an true and virtual accomplishment as there were a couple of significant ‘safety stops’ one very late in the ride which I thought was going to blow the time to ‘failure’.

But not so. Five full (5) seconds. HUGE.

Anyway, I had a number of things to do today on the list and made 80-90% which is good by the standards of mere mortals.

SO WHAT SUFFERED?

The art work and projects. There is still time and after some wet time I MAY work on the spec sign.

Tomorrow is an off day for training and meanwhile the race is only two (2) short weeks away. I am thinking the week break might have been a good thing but the long ride Saturday will be all telling.

Scheduled for 121k (75m) so start early and hang in. The previous long ride before Holiday was a smashing success and great for both confidence and moral. I felt I REALLY had it for the 105k. So now I SHOULD BE (s/b) ready for the next step up.

I did spend some time while riding today reflecting. Let’s face it, with the hours of saddle time, there is the ‘opportunity’ to think about a LOT of things.

One thing I noticed that did go ‘soft’ was the ‘saddle muscles’ or as I like to say the ‘man-machine interface’.

It was a little tender after the rides today and things need to toughen up there and quickly.

Looking at the calendar, only six (6) more rides until team Wicked Strong musters and rallies for the drive to Wichita Falls and the HH100.

With the newest team members we have to ‘polish’ things up and abbreviate OR make the second ‘H’ stand for ‘Hades’ if asked so we make it part of the Greek mythology course of the home school program. FB REMINDS Grandpa 'hell' is a 'dirty word.'

So looking forward to the off day tomorrow.

I will make a plan to spend more time around the casa but will need to venture out for some supplies.

Most of the perishables have been consumed OR perished.

Purchased milk today and the protein shake after the ride was wonderful. Too late for oatmeal but tomorrow the fiber returns.

I spent some part of the day wrestling with finances. I FINALLY got thru to an American at American Express and was able to access the balance. Simple operation right?

WRONG!!

Same thing with t-mobile. That toll free number that has been blocked three (3) times on as many levels but still gets thru to leave an automated voice message continued.

I spoke to ‘Sergio’ again and he said that what ‘they’ (the scammers) were doing was illegal so I IMMEDIATELY said sick the lawyers on them and he gave me a website for the FTC and filing a complaint. Which I did. However I ran into a most annoying problem with reporting the ‘time’ format and thus could not complete the on-line form (!!).

So I called in anger because the time was of no consequence at all in the formal filing of the complaint but this little detail was stopping the form from being completed so I was screwed.

Once again Bill. Grab your ankles and SMILE !!

I called the number under ‘contact us’ and was made aware that it was after 5:00 so manana for THAT one.

Sometimes I wonder if ALL THIS is worth it.

I think maybe I will skip supper and go out to the cement pond, go under water and see how long I can hold my breath and end it all that way.

Gnawing thru my wrists does not seem to be a ‘preferred’ method for getting out of this God forsaken mess.

On fourth thought, I am in favor of a Makers & coke. It has been some time since I was 1) home, 2) in need 3) in the mood AND 4) deserving of a celebratory reward.

WHY AND WHAT !?

Completing the mega journey, from the Beck/cage the elephant concert to traveling with little one’s CONSTANTLY testing AND TRYING any sane adults metal and patience.

But being above all that, the ’glamour’ of travel or more accurately the ‘lost luster’.

The rude, inconsiderate idiots are abundant, most prevalent and are overwhelming and all one really has to do is leave the friendly confines of one’s casa, cell, house or barracks to find them.

Think 'zombies'.

Yes, I think a double pour on the M & c will be in order AND most welcome at this time.

Toots peeps.