Not sure how

But I lost 8 pounds since the last time I weighed myself. I think I peaked at around 284 and when I weighed myself this morning (at 5:30am...stupid work) I weighed 276. Haven't done anything special, but it felt nice. I guess I'm just not eating a lot.

Back in the Saddle Again

Cue Aerosmith. I finally got time to ride today. Short 1.5 mile trip in the neighborhood, but still something. It felt good. I hope to get up early enough to ride again tomorrow before my nephew's/godson's Baptism. We have to be there before noon tomorrow.

Why I haven't ridden my bike at all

Annoying, to say the least, that I haven't been able to ride my bike at all on this long vacation of mine. Well, at least I have an excuse. I've been working like a dog to get this project done.

We had major concrete work done. New driveway, sidewalk, front walk, and patio out back. The driveway was necessary, but we decided to do it all since we got a pretty good deal and all but the front walk needed to be done at some point. It was cheaper to do it all at once rather than spaced out.

This was the front of my house:



And here are some of how it looks now.





Along with my wife and help from my mother and in-laws, we redid the living room, steps, and hallway in the downstairs. I had a flood about a year and a half ago and we are finally finishing up the work that needed to be done to my house. The living room floor was last and we installed some great Bruce Lock & Fold flooring over the concrete slab.



This was before we finished with the staircase area. It's painted as of tonight. All that needs to be done is to install the molding. We have all new baseboard molding and door casing that will go in. I also need to reroute the cables for the Directv. I put in a hookup and there are loose cables in the attic that need to be connected to the dish. Also, with as bad as the transition from wall to ceiling is, we're putting up some small molding that will act as crown molding throughout most of the downstairs. I can't wait to be finished.

Unfortunately, this took up all of my vacation, but at least I have my house back together.

This sucks

I've been off work for two weeks and have thus far biked twice. I've been working like a dog to get my living room fixed and get the wood floors laid. Tomorrow is when I finally start that. We've done all the painting and room prep including laying tiles by the front door. I can't wait to be done.

30.7 MPH!!!!

So there's a spot on my route through my neighborhood that has a pretty good hill for me. Usually, I don't try to blow down because there is a stop sign down there not too far from the end of it. Well, I opened up, late, but still opened up. I hit a max of 30.7 mph on it, far better than the typical 20-25 I hit there.

Unfortunately, this led to problems later on. Since I only ride in the neighborhood, I usually ride through stop signs if there's no one coming. And I have plenty of visibility at most of them. I coasted through the first stop sign and then the road I turn on hits another road that bends around in a U, making it sort of a fork in the road. There is a stop sign for the way I go. I had to stop. Remember, I ride clipless now. Well, I didn't downshift enough before I had to stop. Needless to say, I had a bit of trouble getting started. Nearly went over, but managed to get unclipped again.

Let's just say, another lesson learned. Downshift at stop signs. Unless of course, I want to fall over. Not my idea of fun.

First clipless spandex ride

Finally got on the bike again after a week off it. I got my shoes and had ordered pedals, spandex, and a flat fixing kit. Whole hell of a lot of good the flat fixing kit is going to be with me forgetting to order a frame pump. Oh well.

I ordered the Nashbar Ventoux 2 Look compatible pedals to go with the shoes. I didn't fall, so that's a good thing. Easy to clip in and out. Much better than the clips. And the spandex made for a more comfortable ride.



Now it's time to bust my butt to get my shed cleaned out.

Ride, Mow, Wedding

I got up earlyish today so I could ride. Got in a two mile ride and mowed half of my backyard before I had to get dressed to go to a wedding. One of my wife's high school friends got married and had a great wedding. Too much food. Choice of 3 different entrees. Of course, I had one of each. :)

We were seated near the desert bar. Wow. Not good. I had quite a bit of everything. They had a build your own sundae thing. It was great. Peanut butter cake? Don't mind if I do. Peanut butter is my weakness. I could live on Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. And peanut butter and jelly.

Anyway, weigh in is supposed to be tomorrow. I think I'll skip it and go for two laps of my 2 mile route. Then it's off to the parent's place to have dinner for my dad's birthday. And all of one more week of work before I take two weeks of vacation at home. I can't wait.

I plan on biking a lot during that time. Also, installing the hardwood floor in the living room and hallway and tile at the front door. I think I have a round of golf planned with my brother at some point since he's a teacher and he's off for the summer. He should have his new clubs by then. Can't wait. I haven't been golfing in a few months.