Monthly Archives: August 2015

365 Day Photo Challenge 245/365 “What a Great Hobby”

31 Monday Aug 2015

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Dark rain clouds during my ride.

As a child I learned how to ride a bike as my mom or dad pushed me up and down the driveway.  I continued riding well into my teenage years.  I would ride for hours on end around my community riding up and down hills that today I look at and realize that I know I couldn’t do it without stopping midway and take a breather.

Sometime in my early adult years, and really for no apparent reason, I stopped riding and again for no apparent reason I sold my one and only bike that my mom and dad bought me for Christmas. It wasn’t until after I got married and after my first child was born I bought a bike from one of my coworkers.  It was a bike that his daughter bought some years prior and she had decided to sell it to get some extra cash.  The bike was a Trek and I paid $150 for it.  When I first got the bike I had to put it in the shop to let them get the bike tuned up for me to ride it.  They put new cables, brake pads, tubes and tires and gave it a good cleaning.  After all was said and done I put an additional $250 for the repairs.  I bet I rode that bike 5 times between then and the time my girls were old enough to ride.  There was always some adjustment to be made to the bike.  The gears would never shift right, the brakes always rubbed and the tires always were flat whenever I wanted to ride.

A buddy of mine at work talked me into getting the bike out of storage.  I used the term “storage” loosely here.  It was stored underneath by deck outside where it caught the brunt of all the rain, sleet, snow and ice for over 15 years.  I dug the bike out, scraped off most of the dirt dobber nests and proceeded to the hose pipe to hose it off.  It needed a lot of work.  To the shop it went, again.  Two new tubes, tires, a chain, cables, brake pads, and a lot of work on the derailer.  The shop kept it for two weeks before I saw it again.

After 1,200 miles, four wrecks, two trips to the ER, another chain and a new rim I finally broke down and purchased a new to me 2013 Cannondale.  I’ve still got the Trek, after all it is an antique. Right now my Cannondale is sick.  I’ve got the back tire in the shop getting a new spoke. Hopefully I’ll be riding her by Wednesday.

365 Day Photo Challenge 244/365 “Another Cyclist Down”

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Family and friends are mourning the loss of well-known contractor William Robertson, Jr. He worked on the newly opened Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham.

Robertson was killed this morning in Blount County while cycling with friends. Authorities say a Ford ranger truck hit and killed Robertson and injured two other cyclists. This happened on Highway 75 in the Allgood area

Robertson was killed this morning in Blount County while cycling with friends. Authorities say a Ford ranger truck hit and killed Robertson and injured two other cyclists. This happened on Highway 75 in the Allgood area.

Robertson was pronounced dead on the scene. In addition to the museum, Robertson also worked on the Westin Hotel in the Uptown District.

Demetrius White and Tracey White were the cyclists injured. They were airlifted to UAB Hospital.

Birmingham Mayor William Bell issues this statement Saturday: “We were deeply saddened today on hearing of the tragic and sudden loss of Mr. William Robertson. Mr. Robertson was not only an outstanding African American businessman but also a dear friend. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his wife and his family on their devastating loss. “

State troopers are investigating the crash. 

This is the fourth fatality in the last couple of months in my area.  One of the related deaths was due to a distracted driver.  I’m not sure what the other causes were, but none the less they shouldn’t have happened.

Alabama is the worst state for cyclists.  I’ve been nearly run off the road several times in the last three years.  I purposely ride in subdivisions where traffic is light.  There are two roads where I get on that the traffic is pretty heavy but I’m not on there more than ten to fifteen minutes.  But, unfortunately, that’s plenty of time to get hit.

I had some mechanical difficulties on today’s ride.  I have to take my tire in tomorrow to have another spoke replaced.  Maybe I can get another ride in tomorrow to finish out the month.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 243/365 “Near Miss”

29 Saturday Aug 2015

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Near Miss

Since I’ve started taking my GoPro camera with me whenever I go riding I’ve recorded several unsafe events.  For instance today while on my ride I had a car pass me in an unsafe area and nearly colliding with another car.   I just don’t understand people wanting to save maybe 10 to 15 seconds of their precious time by passing on a hill or in a curve.  I’m hoping that they wouldn’t pass a car in those locations.  Of course, if an accident did occur, they would put the blame on the cyclist for being on the roads.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 242/365 “Mom is Home”

28 Friday Aug 2015

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Mom is home but not any better.  The doctors performed the test this morning but the test was inconclusive.  They still don’t know if it’s a tumor or a clot. They sent her home with instructions to contact her doctor to make arrangements to have a MRI done at another hospital.  They are leaning on the side of a tumor but this tumor is over 2 cm.  My mother is upset that they didn’t go ahead and do something other than just run tests.  I’m not at all happy at the moment myself.  Hopefully, her doctor will expedite things so she can be more at ease.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 241/365 “Update on my Mom”

27 Thursday Aug 2015

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I got to the hospital this morning expecting to see my mom being rolled back into surgery but the doctors decided at the last minute to do more tests.  They decided that she doesn’t have clots in her lungs but she either has a blood clot or a benign tumor in her heart.  They will perform a test in the morning to determine what exactly they’re looking at and make a decision according to what they find.  If it’s a blood clot they will go ahead and remove it.  If it’s a tumor then the doctors will discuss the options with the family.  Either way I don’t like the idea of having someone fooling around with my mom’s heart.  I know that with today’s knowledge and technology it’s a pretty simple procedure but still the thought of it makes my stomach churn.

Thanks to all who commented and are praying for my mom.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 240/365 “Blood Clots”

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Has not been a good day.  Mom had a doctor appointment.  She found out that she has two blood clots, one in her heart the other in one of her lungs.  They did not keep her but rather send her home with mads.  Her main doctor called and wants her emitted immediately.   They’re on their way.  Surgery will be tomorrow, maybe.  Mom is 73 years old.  It’s going to be a long night.

365 Day Photo Challenge 239/365 “The List”

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

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By now I think everyone has either seen the list, heard about the list and maybe even looked through the list to see if someone you know is on the list. The list I’m referring to is the Ashley Madison List.  By no means am I condoning the actions of the people that made the list.  In my opinion, they just got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.  The last two days my news feed on my FB account has been dominated with people wanting to share the list.  Yes, I read the list simply because I wanted to make sure my name wasn’t on there.  I knew it wasn’t because I never visited the site.  But, you never know if somehow by chance someone stole my identity.

While I was glancing at the list, I did notice a couple of people that I actually know. In fact, my kids went to school with their kids.  I simply can’t imagine what their going through right now.  The embarrassment and humiliation must be unbearable.  I’ve heard that there’s even been a couple of cases of suicide due to the list being published.

Here’s my take on the list.  I don’t really care who’s on the list.  I will not share the list nor will I speak ill of the people I know that are on the list.  It’s simply none of my business.  The families involved have got enough on their plate right now and they don’t need my help by spreading the list around.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 238/365 “Weather Tease”

24 Monday Aug 2015

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The older I get the more I despise colder temperatures.  I’m extremely happy with temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F.  Any colder than that I start to get cold.  I used to be able to handle temperatures in the 20’s and not even worry about wearing a jacket.  No, the jacket will come out at 60 degrees and lower.

Tomorrow, Mother Nature will tempt us with temperatures below 70 degrees in spots.  Even lower in the valley areas.  It’s still August for goodness sake.  I can remember temperatures in the 100’s way up until mid September.

I love camping in temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s though.  Just as long as I don’t have to get out of my warm sleeping bag.  During the day I can’t walk because of the amount of clothes I have on trying to stay warm.  Just be prepared, I really don’t like winter and I despise being cold.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 237/365 “I Did as Promised”

23 Sunday Aug 2015

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I stated yesterday that come Hell or high water I was going to ride today. When I woke up it was storming here.  At first I believed that the ride wouldn’t happen.  But, as fate would have it, the skies cleared after lunch and I was able to get a little over 22 miles in.  This coming week the weather looks good for riding each day.  I know Friday evening is out due to a football game and Saturday morning is out due to having to take one of my daughters to a music class.

It really felt good to get out on the bicycle today.  It was a bit windy and I had a headwind for most of my ride.  I had several dogs that tried to attack me today and I have yet to understand why people allow their dogs to run loose in a community where there is a leash law.  I’m just wondering if one of these dogs cause me to have a wreck and it causes me bodily injury who is going to be responsible for my medical bills?  I would think it would be the dog owner but with today’s laws who knows?

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 236/365 “I Ride Tomorrow”

22 Saturday Aug 2015

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Come Hell or high water I will ride tomorrow.  The only ride I got in this week was on Monday and that’s because either rain or other obligations got in the way.  Tomorrow is my day.  Nothing is going to stand in my way to get out and ride at least 25 miles.  It’s been a busy week and everything I’ve done I’ve done for others.  So, with that said, I’m riding for me tomorrow.