Bud Baker

Good morning, everyone! It was 80 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 105. I notice that even Annette's neck of the woods has a 100+ degree forecast for today. In doing my garage door research, it turns out that new home builders are routinely using a thin 27 gauge steel door with only a single spring for new houses, even on 16 foot wide doors like mine. This is what is on my house and what I'm finding the cheap advertised price for. If you want a door that will last for years and hold up to a garage door opener, this ain't it.......LOL. KW Judy, I always open two tabs in my browser when I post, one for my post and the other to view yesterday's Air. That way, I can just tab back and forth and reply to different stuff without losing anything I've typed into my current post. MI Judy, what did the neurologist say? I hope you can get the spasms back under control again soon. Back to work for me. Have a great day, all!

Good morning, everyone! It was 80 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 105. I notice there are 15 states that have cities with highs forecast higher than 105 today. Annette, I did the merge. I average doing about one merge a week.....LOL. My plans yesterday took an unexpected turn. When Rose was leaving for work, she pushed the button to close the garage door and the door folded up like a cheap tent. With a bass boat and collection of bicycles in the garage, she didn't want to leave with the door open, so I rode home, got the door closed, then drove back to work. So now I'm garage door shopping. I can't find one to install myself that isn't $200 higher than what several companies will sell me one installed for. What's up with that? KW Judy, crappie fishing is usally very good in the summer, with stable and predictable patterns for catching the fish. Benbrook is just a tough old lake. But it's closer to home than anything else, so I fish it sometimes. I have to use IE on this work computer, but there's no way I'd ever use it at home. I browse with Firefox. Time for me to get back to work. Have a great day, all!

Good morning, everyone! It was 78 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 103. I got up and went fishing at Lake Benbrook Saturday morning. I ended up staying later than I'd intended, as I so often do when I go fishing......LOL. After not catching anything all morning, I started catching crappie just before noon and by 2:30 ended up with 6 nice ones and several smaller ones that I released. Benbrook is just a tough fishing lake; I suspect that may be an average to good fishing day for me on that lake. I still love being on the water, even if I have a tough time coming up with fish. The lake level had dropped a foot in just nine days before Saturday. The park gate attendant where I launched my boat told me the boat ramp there would close if the lake got much lower. I hope the heat and drought here eases soon. Benbrook is already plan B for my fishing. I may have to come up with plan C soon.....LOL. Since I spent more hours in the heat than I'd intended Saturday, I settled for a 48 mile ride Sunday morning, and spent the rest of the day vegetating in front of the TV. This weather will give you an appreciation of good air conditioning. Back to work time for me. Have a great day, all!

Very sorry to read this, LaDonna. Condolences to you and your family.

Good morning, everyone! It was 80 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 105. I haven't made any specific plans for the weekend yet. There will probably be some bike riding and fishing involved, though. Who knows, maybe I'll go ride with the Fort Worth mayor on her Tour de Fort Worth. I'm hoping to try out the new umbrella setup I'm adding to my boat, too. I'm not fishing under the shade of any bridges this summer, and fishing 100 degree afternoons with no shade isn't really all that much fun, so we'll see how the shade umbrella setup works. MI Judy, the Lowell Community Wellness Center certainly sounds like a worthy organization. I hope you enjoy volunteering with them. KW Judy, in my 60 years on this earth I had never seen anyone pop out an eye. That's why it was so funny to see a woman hand Rose a plastic eye the same week that Ann posted that joke. Lillian, your experience with a timeshare sounds typical. It's funny how things that sound like a good idea to buy at the time turn out to be something almost never used. Most boats fall into that same category. That's not the case with mine though; it gets lots of hours on the water.......LOL. Have a great day, all!

Good morning, everyone! It was 78 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 104. No daily high temperature prediction on the 10 day forecast is less than 102. This has turned into one seriously hot summer. KW Judy, I was raised a Catholic too, but I'm not sure how much it affects what I do these days. I guess each of us has to decide for ourselves what we are ok with doing and what we can't, though. It reminds me of a decision I made last year. In another of my budget trimming efforts, preparing for retirement, I decided that from then on, I would just drink water when I ate at a restaurant. The $2 to $4 they charge for a drink that costs them 5 cents or less always seemed excessive to me anyway, so seemed a logical place to cut expenses. Just about the time I did that, I was eating with riding friends just after a ride. It was a barbecue place where you go through a line cafeteria style. One of my friends, just ahead of me in line, grabbed a glass of plain ice, then explained as he paid for his food at the end of the line that he was just getting water in it. Then, after putting his food on our table, he walked back to the iced tea dispenser and filled his glass. That would be one way to pay less for a restaurant drink, but I don't think I could ever bring myself to do that. I'll just drink water. I forgot to mention that on Sunday, while we were swimming, Rose got to talking to a woman who it turned out had lost an eye two years ago. She popped out her plastic eye and handed it to Rose. After that, as they talked, I just could not keep a straight face, thinking about that joke that Ann posted last week. After we got home and everyone had left, I got online and read that joke to Rose. She just howled. "You just happened to catch my eye." LOL. Have a great day, all!

Welcome, Tom! Sorry you need to be here. Glad to hear the surgery was successful and they've called it Stage 1. My surgery was 3 1/2 years ago. I was already a long distance cyclist before my diagnosis, and determined to recover well enough to get back to my long distance riding afterward, so even before my surgery, I was researching to find out about post-surgery exercise. Like you, I found next to nothing, and no specific doctor recommendations at all. I did however, find studies that clearly showed that regular aerobic exercise after lung surgery helped with the long term pain from surgery more than anything else that had been tried. Finding that made me even more determined to get back to my riding as soon as I could. My surgeon recommended waiting six weeks after surgery before doing any kind of exercise. I ignored that and was back on my bicycle 16 days after surgery, the day after they removed 40 staples from my side. I did, however, wait the six weeks before resuming my other exercising, core muscle exercises (for my back) and dumbbell lifting. Those exercises actually use the muscles that were cut, so it only seemed logical to wait longer to start them again. The riding clearly made the pain much better, but I have to say that the other exercises, the ones which actually use the muscles that were cut, made the most dramatic difference in my pain. It improved quickly, and within a few months I was pain free, and have been ever since. That's a lot different than what you'll hear from many who've had the surgery. Long term pain is a problem for many. So I think your checking into exercise is a very good thing. I think any kind of low impact aerobic exercise would be good for a start. Brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or any number of other exercises should be good. I would just caution her to start slow, don't do anything very strenuous with the muscles around the incision yet, and if any exercise causes pain in the incision area, stop, then try it again at a later date. I should add that I'm not a doctor, nor a physical therapist, just a surgery patient who's recovered well. Best wishes for you both! Keep us posted on how she does.

Good morning, everyone! It was 78 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 104. MI Judy, how did it go with the neuroligist? Does he have a plan yet? I think it would take more than an ipad to make me listen to another timeshare sales pitch.....LOL. Nothing from Annette here yesterday, I guess I need to make time to visit facebook this evening (can't do it at work) and check for Annette and Eric photos and postings. Time for me to get back to work. Have a great day, all!

Good morning, everyone! It was 80 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 103. I went fishing at Lake Benbrook Saturday morning and surprised myself by bringing home 11 nice crappie. That's the best catch I've made at Benbrook. It's a tough crappie lake but less than 10 miles from home, so it's a tempting place for me to fish. I went back to Benbrook yesterday morning, but only caught 4 keeping size crappie. I expect the holiday boat traffic had the fish spooked. On Sunday, in between those fishing trips, I did a 100 mile bike ride with friends. Yesterday afternoon, our daughters, grandson, Rose's sister, and her daughter came over and joined us for burgers and swimming. So I had a busy weekend. MI Judy, sorry you had a tough holiday. We eliminated fireworks from our 4th of July celebration years ago. One year at Possum Kingdom Lake, it occured to me that drunks in boats on a lake after dark to watch fireworks wasn't that good an idea. And standing in my front yard one dry year in Midland after watering down the roof of my house, I watched grass fires off in the distance in every direction and decided that staying home and defending my house against fireworks was a better plan than using them. We don't grill much any more either, ever since I came to realize how strongly it is associated with cancer. We left our outside grill behind when we last moved, and just settle for occasional grilling on a George Foreman grill these days. Glad to read that Eric has landed on our side of the pond. I look forward to reading of his adventures here. Time for me to get back to work. Have a great day, all!

The Take-A-Look mirror, like all eyeglass/helmet mirrors, is very small and weighs next to nothing. When a mirror is that close to your face, it doesn't have to be very big to give a great view of behind you. Mirrors are more important on a recumbent than an upright bike, since you can't turn your head and look behind you, so I've always used one. I've tried several different ones, but like the Take-A-Look best. It holds its adjustment and gives a great view.

Good morning, everyone! It was 77 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 102. Checking the 10 day forecast, it just calls for more of the same, no rain and all 10 days 102 degrees or higher. I ended up with a good bike mileage month in June, just over 850 miles. I think I'm going to do a 100 mile ride on Sunday, nothing like a 100 mile ride on a 100 degree day to celebrate a good scan. I'm thinking I'll do some fishing, too. The wind has finally settled down, it looks like. Some would say that light winds when it's 100 degrees outside isn't a good thing, but at least it will let me fish, even if I do end up coming home before noon to escape the heat. Kw Judy, have you considered a Take-A-Look mirror? It attaches either to eyeglasses or helmet and works great for riding. I like mine much better than anything attached to the handlebar. Sara, glad you checked in. Here's hoping the scan looks good. Eric, here is Pee-Wee Herman's official website. Have a great day, all!

Good morning, everyone! It was 76 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 103. They're saying this will be the 3rd hottest June ever recorded here. I believe it; it's the hottest June I've seen. Actually, Rose was serious about the spider webs. I had already seen them myself. I guess the little critters have been working overtime here. If you opened the garage door in the dark, the light from the garage made the spider webs under my truck almost glow. They looked eery. I did some major destruction on them yesterday evening though; I drove to Sam's ......LOL. Katie, the best bike is always the one that you actually ride, no matter what kind that may be. There have been a few club riders who've made snide remarks about my recumbents, too. But not one of them rides 7,500 miles a year on what they ride. KW Judy, glad your chemo went well. Gotta love those steroids......NOT! Back to work for me. Have a great day, all!

Good morning, everyone! It was 82 degrees as I rode to work this morning. You know when it's 82 degrees here at 4:45 am, it's going to be hot. They're calling for 103 this afternoon. I had a flat on the way to work, the first flat I've had in a while, and the first flat I've had on the front of my commuter bike in over two years. I hit a rock just wrong on Crowley Road just north of Risinger Road, and that can cause a pinch flat on a bicycle tire. Rose pointed out to me last night that there's getting to be quite a collection of spider webs from the bottom of my truck to the driveway......LOL. It's actually only been a week since I drove the truck. Annette, ah, Administrative Assistant. I was starting to think that you shared an office with Alcoholics Anonymous. Eric, I consume all kinds of healthy things I hadn't heard of just a few years ago, including cacao powder, agave nectar, stevia, rice bran oil, beet root extract, curcumin, fish oil, and lots of other things. But I'm still surprised at how often one of those articles mentions something I haven't run across before. Ann, I hope your week settles down. It's hump day, so we'll be halfway through the week today. MI Judy, set your alarm clock for 3:55 am and you'll be getting up when I do. KW Judy, good luck with your chemo today. Have a great day, all!

Judy is right. When I first found my way here, I knew my story would be very different from most. But you could see that posters here were nice, as well as supportive, so I dove in anyway. We welcome everyone.

From the Huffington Post: Lura Lynn Ryan, the former Illinois first lady who spent the waning years of her life seeking freedom for her imprisoned husband, former Gov. George Ryan, has died after a long bout with cancer. She was 76. Lura Lynn Ryan died late Monday at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, said Andrea Lyons, an attorney for George Ryan. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer and hospitalized for apparent complications from chemotherapy. Here's a link to the entire article.

I don't think we have plans at all. I may do something completely different, like go fishing. Our grandson's birthday in on the 4th, but no one wants to spend the 4th attending a birthday party, so his was held last weekend.

Good morning, everyone! It was 78 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 103. I think we all need a day of vegetating now and then. I'm going to have well over 800 miles on the bike in June, a very good mileage month for me, plus there have been lots of 100+ degree days this month, so an easy day in air conditioning now and then has to be a good thing, I'm thinking. I read an article yesterday over on Huffington Post that I thought was pretty good. It was written by David Katz, MD, the Director of the Yale Prevention Research Center. He'd had a cancer patient come to him after surgery and ask what he could do to best prevent the cancer from coming back (lots of us can identify with that, right?), which made Dr Katz put together his Super 6 list for good health. Like most medical doctors, he tends to just blow off supplements, but other than that, I thought it was a good list for those of us really focused on our health. MI Judy, I hope the shoes work well for you. That does sound like a good thing to try. It looks like both Eric and Annette are already geeked about his trip. It will be a grand trip, for sure. Stephanie, meet Stephanie. Stephanie, Stephanie. Have a great day, all!

Wow, congrats on 8 years, Muriel!

Wow, it sounds like you are doing a great job of hanging in there. I hope the fatigue doesn't get you down too badly afterwards, but if it does, there's nothing wrong with just taking it easy until you feel better. Glad you checked in.

Good morning, everyone! It was 78 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 102. The 10 day forecast is calling for every day to be over 100 degrees. It's going to be a hot summer. I settled for a short ride early on Saturday, riding from home and doing 47 miles. I conceded my fishing plans to the wind yesterday and just stayed home and zombied out in front ot the TV. Wow, the Air was quiet over the weekend. I must not have been the only one who didn't do much computer time. I had to google Qigong. It looks interesting, but I'll have to read more when I have more time. Have a great day, all!

Good morning, everyone! It was 73 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 98. The forecast for the next 10 days is, hot, hot, and more hot. The weekend is almost here. Rose and I are supposed to go out tomorrow night, so I'm thinking I'll settle for a shorter bike ride tomorrow, and maybe some close to home fishing on Sunday afternoon, if the wind allows. It will be cool to see what the Evening Times publishes, Eric. Let us know. Sorry you've had such a tough several days, Annette. I hope it gets better soon. How did Gilda's go, MI Judy? Enjoy your fish, KW Judy! Back to work for me. Have a great day, all!

Congrats for Joel!

Dangit, Sara, sorry to read this. But the others are right; WBR has done well for many here. I'm sending positive thoughts that it will for you, too.

Good morning, everyone! It was 71 degrees as I rode to work this morning. Forecast high is 99. It looks like the rain is gone. I wish we'd gotten more at home. KW Judy, I have no onc appointment scheduled. I'll probably just have to call and try to pry it out of them next week. I hope your allergies are better soon. How's your book, Eric? Have your storms eased up today, MI Judy? Is your water out of the faucet not good, Lillian? I remember when they first started selling bottled water. I just shook my head and thought, "Who would ever buy that?" Now they sell over 30 million gallons of it a year just in the US.........LOL. Have a great day, all!

So sorry to read this about your brother in law, Ronnie. Condolences to family and friends.