I'm a Lumberjack and I'm okay

I cut down three trees yesterday and two rose clumps. I cannot call them bushes as they were two unwieldy and out of control to qualify as bushes. These trees were small and in the way. I'm trying to create as much light as possible in the yard so the arborvitae can get some growth.

My hops is coming along quite pitifully. I have resigned myself to the fact that this will be a building year for the clinging plants. My grape vines are going slowly as well. Only the clamatis is growing strong. It is up to the bottom of the deck and heading up the post for the rail.

Along with all my Lumberjacking, I rode my bike downtown to catch some Hoopfest action and then went out to the river for a swim. Yesterdays temperture was well into the 90's.

I declare Summer to be here. There! Now it's official.

A Revolutionary Day

The price of gas has spurred me to think and act green. I am coming to hate that word. Everyone wants to be green and make you think they are green. Who can be greener. When it comes right down to it, the green I am interested in saving is money.

Anyway, I rode my bike to work today. This is normally not practical because work is 14 miles away and I am a pussy. But, if I ride the bike downtown and catch the bus, it is a much more attractive proposition...in a pussy kind of way.

Today was my trial run to see how long it all takes. I have pledged to do it every work day for the month of July. I'm not giving up my car. I'm just not riding it to work. The challenges will come when something comes up that requires me to have my car. Will I be able to work around it or will I be forced to capitulate and drive to work.

For now, here is self portrait of me riding to work.

I have some additions to make to my earlier entry. I arrived home at 5:50PM. That is 50 minutes later than my normal arrival if I drive. I probably would have been home about ten minutes sooner had there not been a major slowdown at the Freeway Exit. It took 15 minutes just to get from the exit to the Bus Plaza.

One must take into account the money savings against the time spent. I also must factor in the exercise aspect of this bike/bus riding...which for me is very strong motivation to do it.

Here are some numbers for your cyphering enjoyment.

I figure my car consumes two gallons to go to and from work. It's a little less but let's keep this in round figures. At today's price, that is a savings of $8.00. It cost me $2.00 to ride the bus.

In the month of July, there are 22 work days...22 days where I have the opportunity to ride the bike/bus. A monthly bus pass costs $33.00. If I ride all 22 days, it costs me $1.50 per day.

If I drive all of those 22 days, it will cost me $176.00 for gas for the month. Generally, I spend about $240.00 per month on gas. That's based on $60.00 per week, which is about what I have been spending. So I am looking at saving about $130.00. I will of course, be keeping track of my actual savings. It's going to be all offset by the amount of bike gadgets I buy.

Then there's the whole carbon footprint thing, which I am not going to get into here...because I don't care about that.

...and the Livin' is Easy!

Last night was our Eighth Annual Solstice Party. It was a wonderful time and everyone was cleared out by 11:00 when the rain came crashing down. It poured very hard for about half an hour. Susan and I were on the front porch with our regular solstice Hangers-on, Mark and Laura.

I am sad to say that I had such a wonderful time that I did not take hardly any pictures. I really need to hire a staff photographer next year.

Since the Solstice was the official debut of the new bathroom (even though it is not quite complete) I thought I would show a couple of before and after shots.

This is a shot that shows the new sink and vanity that took the place of a mostly useless linen cabinet. I was able to save that whole set up and it is now being useful in the garage.

Here is a view looking straight into the old and new bathroom. There should have been a sink where the orange bucket is. I guess I removed it before thinking of taking the picture.

I wish we could have kept the old subway tile that the original bathroom had. Our budget just wouldn't accommodate that kind of expenditure.

Okay, I now have lots of updating to do from the past week.

As you may have expected, the Suzuki is a total loss. My wonderful son, of who I am so proud, drove it into a tree during a drunken rampage. While he is suffering major consequences for his actions, I am coming out pretty good on the whole deal. I was offered about $800.00 more than I would have sold the car for so I am pretty pleased with that part of the outcome.

I am not pleased with my big toe. It has developed a case of gout. It is very tender and walking for the past week has been quite arduous. I have had good days and bad days but the tenderness is always there.

It is great to be me!

Fabulous Weekend

This is the poster for not allowing your child to borrow your stuff. I'm not going to go into the details, but my son is cooling his jets in a local county facility.