That Would Be Enough

Yes, I rode to work today.

And . . .

It was a mostly gray dreary day. There was some rain mid-morning, not much, but enough to make a few puddles.

When I walked out of the Courthouse after work I noticed a fragrance. It was similar to the scent that fills the air after a nice rain, but it was not quite the same. My Grandpa used to say, "It smells like rain's on the way." I didn't know what he meant, but a sense memory was planted in those moments. Now, I've come to remember, and I believe the awakening of this memory is a direct result of my daily commute on my scooters.

I think anyone who is a serious rider becomes a meteorologist of sorts. When you spend much time exposed to the elements you begin to pay much more attention to them. Grandpa was a farmer, first with horses and later with tractors, but not the kind of tractors with air conditioned and heated cabs. He weathered the weather season in and season out. Now, I'm riding and weathering the weather season in and season out. One of the payoffs is I've come to notice when, "It smells like rain's on the way." There are lots of reasons I ride, but if learning what rain on the horizon smells like was the only one, for me, that would be enough.

• 60F/ and mostly overcast for the ride to work.
• 72F/ with light on again, off again rain during the ride home.

Years Piled Up.

Yes, I rode to work today.

And . . .

It was overcast.

0710 CDT

It wasn't so very cold, but a damp was in the air. I found myself switching on the heated grips. Funny, it won't be long and these temperatures will feel rather warm. The body does adapt to the temperatures . . .well, at least this body does.

There isn't much left standing of the old warehouse. Looking at the old timbers stacked up nearly took my breath. I wonder how many years are piled up in this moment. Soon it will all be gone.

• 61F/16C and overcast for the ride to work.
• 73F/23C with lots of clouds, but plenty of sunshine peeking through for the ride home.

The Air Conditioner Is Off

Yes, I rode to work today.

And . . .

Everything went very well yesterday with the AT&T people. I keep hearing horror stories about other people's dealings with AT&T, Heather being one, but this has not been my experience.

Next will be a different computer. Mine is still working, but I'm running XP and the beast is nearly eight years old. It is time. Heather just bought a new laptop. She is having fun with it. I don't know what direction I'll go yet.

Today was another Monday/Friday for me. I'm off tomorrow getting ready for the long haul of Yom Kippur Services. The Holiday doesn't start until Sundown, but even with there being no cooking, still I've learned it is best to just take the day off and get ready.

A cool front has arrived. The windows are open and the air conditioner is off. Yay! Tomorrow promises to be a great weather day. I'm thinking part of my Yom Kippur preparation just may need to be a nice early morning ride.

• 75F/24C and overcast for the ride to work.
• 86F/30C with some clouds for the home ride.

Pretty Warm

Yes, I rode to work today.

And . . .

It wasn't as humid as yesterday. When I said, "It's pretty warm outside," on coming in from my afternoon walk/break, my co-workers told me I was wrong. In their opinion it was "Damn hot." After last summer's record temperatures nothing this year has felt "hot". Truthfully, as long as the humidity remains reasonable anything under triple-digits Fahrenheit doesn't seem all that bad to me anymore. Do I get hot? Yes, but what's so bad about that? I sweat a lot, but I stay hydrated. Oh, and is there a better feeling than starting up after a stoplight and feeling the wind come through the vents evaporating the moisture from the heat of the moment? In my book it is one of the most wonderful sensations in the world.

Tomorrow I'm getting my internet service upgraded. I'm taking the whole day off and expect to be frustrated. The last time I had a technician come out I knew more about computers than he did which is scary. I became flustered, which means I turned pretty stupid. Hell, I don't even know what my account password is anymore. That's the bad. The good is in over seven years of having AT&T I've only had one problem which wasn't them, it turned out to be my hardware. And, the guy who didn't seem to know anything managed to figure it out. So, there you go.

If things have been so good, why am I tempting fate? It seems broadband is being phased out. Fiber Optic progress. We'll see. I just know it seems most beginnings are difficult.

• 79F/26C with a few clouds for the ride to work.
• 97F/36C and plenty of sunshine for the ride home.

Colorful

Yes, I rode to work today.

And . . .

It was a humid hazy start to the day.

Which makes for colorful fuzzy sunrises.

It got pretty warm as the day progressed, but fortunately the humidity lessen and the ride home was not much more uncomfortable than the ride in. Tomorrow we're to expect more of the same.

The paving is over on Arsenal St. and Billie is once more my ride of choice. It was good to be riding her again. I know part of my delight was being back in the neighborhoods I've come to love. While I was riding Isabelle to work I was taking other routes and this too was good, but for me it seems I like being back "home" and in my routines best.

• 78F/26C with 76% humidity hanging in the air for the ride to work.
• 97F/36C with plenty of sun for the ride home.

My Second Friday of the Week

Yes, I rode to work today.

And . . .

A couple of days away can make a huge difference in the demise of  an old building.

It appears the wrecking crew has reached the "Knock it down and haul it away" stage of the demolition. I reached the stage where I'm ready  for it to be over.

For years I rode by this building and befriended it. I will miss it, but as often happens with a old friend with a terminal illness I've reached a point where the only mercy left to hope for is a quick end to the suffering.

The motorcycle parking area is overflowing. The weather is nearly perfect for riding. We are dry but I hear few saying we need rain.

I survived my Monday which ended at noon. I enjoyed my second Friday of the week all afternoon long.

• 70F/31C and sunny for my ride to work.
• 88F/31C and sunny for my home ride.

The "F" Word Today

Yes, I rode to work today.

And . . .

It was almost chilly for the ride in.

The sun keeps creeping lower. The time change will eventually fix that, but only temporarily. People at work were using the "F" word today: Fall.

It warmed up nicely as everyone expected it to, still there was something about the timing, Labor Day being yesterday, and  the chill in the morning air that made our fall toward Autumn suddenly very real.

Today was a Monday on a Tuesday, but it was also my Friday. I'm taking the next couple of days off  to celebrate the New Year with my Jewish friends. The plan is to make lots of music; listen to wonderful stories and great teachings; to celebrate that wonder still lurks in many a heart and dwells firmly in the great web of Life; and, of course, eat very very well.

Possibly due to an over developed sense of duty, I'm headed back to work Friday for one day. Ironically, this short week is going to have two Mondays/Fridays and I'm good with that.

• 61F/16C with a few clouds for the ride to work.
• 82F/28C and almost partly cloudy for the ride home.