Turkey Day, End of the Month, And Cycling Along

It's one for the money two for the show three to get ready NOW go cat go. But don't you step on my blue suede shoes. You can do anything but stay off of my blue suede shoes. Well, you can knock me down step in my face slander my name all over the place do anything that you want to do but uh uh honey lay off of them shoes. You can burn my house steel my car drink my liquor from that old fruit jar. Do anything you want to do but uh uh honey lay off of my shoes and don't you step on my blue suede shoes. Well, you can do anything but stay off my blue suede shoes

Elvis Presley 1956

By Carl Perkins May 1955

CYCLING:

Hours - 53

Activities - 24

Miles - 701 / 1,128km 

PR's - 14

Days Off The Bike - 6 and only rode 3 times between the 23rd and 29th of November

Story time here with me reflecting on how rude I have been while cycling. I have a bright head light and red flashing tail light that are USB chargeable. I also have a bell that I hang from my top tube or handlebars, depending on which bike I roll out. And lastly, I use my iPhone on speaker mode for broadcasting the suitable playlist. Couples walking are completely oblivious to these distractions. Most give hardly any effort to move out of the way while on the River Trail or casually acknowledge my approach with a wave. Or they frantically jump to one side as if I was a charging herd of buffalo. 

So last weekend, walking with the oldies, The Dude's dogs were running a muck, heard a bell but I could have sworn it was coming from a dog or even a kitty cat off trail. What A Dumb A$$!! It was a cyclist behind us ringing his bell and I stood there like a Jack A$$ starring at the bushes. Felt like such a knucklehead. HELLL0000ooooooo 

So I now have a new found appreciation for walkers, talking on the phone yahoos, and weekend warriors. Life continues on and we all shall grow together just fine. Plenty of room on the trail, Strava Segments aren't really that big of a deal, and the goals is after all to be outdoors. Or simply sticking to the lushes single track might be rather attractive. Oh Baby 

CRACKBOOK:

Couldn't tell you how many times I heard the phrase," I Saw On Facebook..."

Thanksgiving was just bizarre to say the least. This was one of the most superficial Turkey Days for the history books. So many elephants in the room and not at all my ideal meaning of family gatherings. 

The entire morning was spent by myself with The Dude's dogs supervising my every move. This would be the third year in a row that my aJENNda played out in this undesirable manor. The charcoal sparked to life, removed and risen off the bird, dressed up the bird with more fresh herbs, garlic cloves and butter were tucked under the pale tight skin, added the water bath to the weber, placed the bird on the center grate, some kind of a dead animal on the top rack, and then I checked the time. What The Flock Of Poultry

And I wait. Wait some more I do. Add a few more soaked wood chips. Oh, and lets wait a little bit longer. The Dude has worked the last SEVEN Turkey Days and his clock out time fluctuates between 11am and 2pm. All depends on volunteer counts. I truly admire his ambitions but I selfishly piss and mown about it every damn year. But just who in the H E double Hockey Sticks am I to compete with the needs of the church. Damn Resident Heathen 

My self control was impeccable as I reframed form whipping up an adult beverage before 2pm. I can easily be talked into a little splash of baileys in my coffee, a mimosa as a starter, or a beautiful bloody mary but I knew the oldies would arrive soon and I certainly needed my patients in tack this day. Just knowing that it will take so much of my mental energy to navigate the day, better off passing on the hard stuff. Breathe 

So at about 2:30ish, The Dude & I toasted to the afternoon with a gorgeously crafted Celebration Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing. Wasn't until a few hours later that family members would begin to trickle in for dinner. And Yes, I managed to stay on point. Phuc Yeah 

Arguably, I smoked the second best turkey of all time. The brine from the night before maintains the white breast meat to remain moist and savory. The fresh rosemary added a hint of goodness but not drowning out the roasted garlic by any means. The soaked in water hard apple wood chips added a delightful flavor but wasn't overly smoked and obnoxious. The orange slices on top was just an elusion as the citrus was actually extracted in the brine but a few comments were dropped about those overtones. So Thats Cool 

On the top shelf of the weber laid two heavily coated thyme, rosemary, and a dash of fresh ground cayenne pepper racks of lamb. I was a little weary of over cooking them but the thermometer reflects how on my game I was. Top Shelf Meal

Then, my veteran move was NOT piling my plate with my hungry eyeballs. I went with more of a "sample" portions theory for the evening. And boy I am thankful for that!! The Dude used the egg beaters to whip together a fluffy whipping cream for the two pies he prepared the night before. The added bonus to his concoction was adding in a little granulated brown cane sugar nearing the end of his beating. Hell Yes 

BODY WORK:

Let me just inform you of how much I miss working in the office. I seriously miss the conversations with the old folks, assessing the pathologies of clients, working with the meridians of the body, and stimulating the nervous system for overall good health. 

There was a session in which I performed a neuromuscular massage throughout a clients back. Basically, we find ecopressure together. I begin at the origin of the muscle, my elbow holds the position of that point while the client SLOWLY moves through their range of motion, I then make a micro movement towards the insertion of that same muscle, they work the ROM again, and I micro move throughout the belly of that muscle until we have worked the entire muscle together. Its A Brilliant Release 

Another session was built upon a stubborn Piriformis Muscle that just would let go. I was able to step back and advise the client that the issue must be else where in their body. Is it a Hammie, is it a knee cap, or is it metaphorically in their mind. Come to find out, while working with their neck, the release happened. I wasn't even aware of it happening. My soft vision was around the shoulders, breathing, and their crown and they "shouted out" that their hip just rolled off the table. They literally felt their tailbone rotate like a door knob and their hip FINALLY let go. So Damn Cool 

Nothing was ominous about these clouds but the sunset was a heart stopper. I stood outside by myself as the radiant colors morphed into that lovely deep purple before darkness rules the landscape. Don't you just totally dig that moment before daylight disappears from another calendar day?? I Sure Do 

LEFTOVERS:

Here are the leftover thoughts and whats the haps during December. 

First on the list would be the fact that there is so much going on this month in the night sky. The nights are becoming long and dark. We are currently entertained with the Puppid Meteor Shower and will peak over these next two nights. The Monocerotid Meteor Shower peaks on December 8th. Then, under perfect New Moon conditions, the most impressive Geminid Meteor Shower of the year peaks on the 14th of December. AND THEN, hold your little unmentionables, the astronomical moment of our time, The Conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter in the western horizon. I Cant Wait!!!! Our friends in the Southern Hemisphere will be treated to a Total Solar Eclipse on the 14th of December. You're So Lucky

Can you say, " Turkey Enchilada on Day #3?" This was a delightful way of adding a traditional Mexican Dish to Thanksgiving. I spaced on photos but a beautiful red curry with turkey and veggies were engulfed on Day#4 of Thanksgiving. 

Oh, check out this full moon from the 30th. Keep in mind, it was only about 27F / - 2.8C during this ride. What tripped me out was that I never saw the photo in real time. It was later on that evening when I saw this "glow" of light radiating from Mr Moon. Heading back at 17F / -8.33C that night, riding by myself in the peacefulness of darkness, only the unseen animals scurry along the under brush kept me company. Pure Stillness 

Have you ever prepared a tuna noodle dish??? How about a Turkey noodle dish?? This was the bomb on Day#5 of Thanksgiving leftovers and THE LAST DAY OF TUKEY DINNERS!! My intake of poultry has exceeded its limits and I am very satisfied with that achievement. Hot Damn 

And the bonus of the year, a new ( used ) oven for the OM House. Somehow the ceramic/glass top of the old ( came with the house ) oven cracked from the back right burner to the middle of the left back and left front burner. The burners still worked just fine but it is becoming a hazard in my third eye. My luck, a boiling pot of water would be the final straw for breaking completely through the counter top. Of course, as my luck would have it, that pot would empty onto my legs. Cant have this preventable situation. Thank You Craigslist!! A women had just purchased all new alliances for her home and I scored an oven out of the deal. As I passed through their garage, a dusty dishwasher was sitting there, upon acquiring, I was told, " You have the truck, if you would do me the flavor of hauling it out my garage, its yours." Two For One?!?!? So Stoked 

FREE:

Speaking of free, here would be my X-mas gifts for 2020. Placing them out as an offering during the FULL MOON on the 30th of November topped with mason jars of spring water brought me good Mo Jo. I have been collecting wooden pallets for fabricating planter boxes, vertical herb holders, table stands, and mini Christmas Tree cut outs for the Holidays. 

They are all for give-a-ways and allows me something to occupy my mind with while I am not riding around this desert oasis. Basically, gives me the reason to enjoy a few cans of Oats, Wheat, and Barley Refreshments. Quite Satisfying  

Some of the wood is pretty beat to Sh*T but there is always a "find" that stokes me out. Like that little board in the photo below. Two tone colors and a perfect base board. These flower planter boxes are rather simple. Six boards at 16 inches and six boards at 15 inches. Once they are tacked together, they remain square at 23 1/2 inches, added trim to all the corners and top. Easy Peasy 

These project are completely free, minus my time, and a few holiday 5 packs. Finally using up all of those GOTTA save jars of miscellaneous finishing nails, left over screws from other jobs, and emptying all those difficult last to get out drops of wood glue. I am far from a pack rat but I have accumulated a few usable items over the decades. And now, they found their purpose.  

And guess what??? Still rockin all ten digits!! With my baby soft lotion hands, I'm fundamentally present and safe when working with wood, saws, and machinery in general in order to save my hands. In years past, a splinter under the finger nail bothered me some but whatever as it is part of the deal. Now, I am a big ol' sissy pants and must wear gloves because my hands have zero built up calluses.

So what do you think?? Would this please your heart as an X-Mas Gift?? Anyway, as I wrap up this post, here is my short film from a ride the other day. Thanx in advance for watching and its only 2min and 40 seconds long. I shot all of these clips on an old iPhone while topping off a 200 mile week. This video captures a casual 50 mile ride out to Highline Lake And State Park. Hope You Dig It!! Turn It Up!! 

Be Kind, Stay Grateful, And Think Snow,

Cheers