Our New Home Away From Home

Our new favorite place to stay in northern Michigan.


The room.


The front yard (with our window).


The family room.


A very small portion of the rear yard/gardens.


Don't ask us where it is... we ain't talkin'.

Need a Rescue, eh?

Jen and Rachel went on a trip. The car quit working about 250 miles away. This is how we got it home, eh?. OOOOT.

Murphy's Law

There's a new sheriff in town...


Yeah, this is what we're dealing with now...


Hahahaha.... Daisy is smiling now.


Yes, this is Boomer's bed. Explains the photo above.


Still too cute though...


What can you say about this one?

New Puppy...

Happy Birthday and Anniversary...

Dad would've been 74 today. Unreal. Happy birthday.

First Call Basement Waterproofing is two years old today. If it weren't for family and a few close friends, it might not be here today. What a rollercoaster ride. But, there's no quit in a Natiw. We may be down, but we're far from out. Learned that from him, too, btw.

J

Using Multiple Rides to Beat the Cold!

Ride #: 22 & 23
Date: January 20
Miles: 11.5
January Miles: 366
Time: 1:04:00
Temperature: 13 [WC= -4], 10 [WC= -6]
Weather: Overcast, light snow, windy/Clear skies, full moon, windy

Picked up some glove liners at REI this afternoon. Wore them tonight, but will have to try them on a longer ride to draw any conclusions. Rode to Church again tonight. Weather was a little overcast and windy. Slow slog into the wind on the way there. Roads in the sub were a little dicey going out so I stuck to the main roads in light snow. Got out late due to a business meeting after services. Was anxious to get started home. Wasn't sure how the roads would be. Turns out the main roads were still fine. Took it slow to be safe. The skies were mostly clear and the full moon was a welcome companion tonight. Breaking the day up into four rides let me log some decent mileage for such a cold day.

Any Excuse to Ride

Ride #: 20 & 21
Date: January 20
Miles: 10.4
January Miles: 354
Time: 53:00
Temperature: 6 [WC= -11], 11 [WC= -7]
Weather: Sunny, wind 19-27mph

Rode to and from Church this morning. Coldest I've ever ridden (6 degrees). Other than the strong headwind, it wasn't too bad. Dressed right. Need to get to REI for some glove liners and more hand/toe warmers. Road surface was snow covered and slick this morning. Very slow going. By the time I rode home, the sun had melted some of it. Much easier commute. Looking forward to riding again this evening.

Going OUT When You Wanna Stay IN!

Ride #: 19
Date: January 19
Miles: 20.5
January Miles: 344
Time: 1:36:27
Temperature: 12
Weather: Sunny, wind NW 14-19mph

Been reading a bike blog from a woman in Alaska of late. It's called Up in Alaska. I really enjoy the way she writes about her rides and, especially, the photos she takes. So I've sort of thieved the format she uses a little bit and would like to make more entries for my rides. Here goes...

Slept in today (not the way I wanted to start out!). Was going to try to make the club ride, but slacked. Temps were very cold and the roads were covered in a light snow. Around 11am I went downstairs and put the studded tires on the Giant. Kept wasting time and eventually realized I wouldn't have time to ride before Nico's wedding.

The wedding was at 2pm and we were out by 2:45pm. My kinda wedding. Then I realized that the reception didn't start until 6pm. This bode well for a ride! Got home and changed into cycling clothing and headed out.

This was a cold, cold ride. The temp was 12 degrees, but the wind was the thing. It was very windy going out west today. Found myself really having to push to keep the bike moving forward, especially cresting Cass Benton hill going NW. As usual, I was dressed properly. Could've maybe used a pair of glove liners and another light pair of socks, but no worries. Note so self for next time I suppose.

Found myself thinking back to twelve days ago when the high temp was 65! Seems like a long time ago. Today the lakes were frozen over quite a bit. Even the river along Hines was showing signs of the cold. Where tree limbs were dipping into the river there was ice forming around them.

In the morning I took the time to switch out my tires to the studded tires. The roads were looking snow covered and slick, but by the time I got out to ride this afternoon/evening, I didn't need them. The roads were in great shape. One thing I've got to figure out is how to keep my water bottle from freezing. Went to take a drink a couple miles in and the top was already frozen shut. I've seen a few photos of folks riding with what look to be thermos type bottles. We'll see.

There's nothing like getting a nice ride in when the weather is contrary. Makes me feel like I really accomplished something special.

The Golden Arrow of Consumption - UPDATE

After watching the video in the previous post a bunch of times, I was left thinking a couple things:

1. Some of it seemed too simple
2. I wondered what her sources were for some her claims, and...
3. I heartily AGREE with some of it.

This morning, I bumped around the internet a bit looking for some more information. I came across a review of the video by a guy named Andy Kaiser. Now, Andy is not an environmentalist by trade. Near as I can tell, he's in the computer industry. BUT, he does raise some very interesting questions and observations about the points discussed in Annie Leonard's video.

Story of Stuff - Review & Analysis

For instance...

Regarding capitalism:

A sidenote here, since at this point in the video, we were treated to the Big Fat Corporate Guy with a Dollar Sign on his Chest further abusing the word for his own selfish gains. That’s true. That’s capitalism. But it’s kept in check, ideally, by market competition and consumer demand (like what this video recommends). One thing that always frustrates me is that some people hate corporations, while still using their benefits. They hate big, nationwide or global-sized businesses. They want everything to be localized down to the mom-and-pop store level. Then they get in their car, use their computer or cellphone and send an email.

Again, the reviewer lends some balance to the "Big Fat Corporation Guy" thing...

You can’t have it both ways, denouncing a company while using its products to improve your life. I’m not saying corporate evils aren’t there - they are - but I think people miss that big business does a lot of good, too.

As I watched the video, I remember asking myself this question during her discussion of the video monitor. Surely the flat screen monitor has SOME benefit over that huge CRT monitor I have in storage! Well, there seems to be a few...

Then the video brings up the flat screen monitor versus the big, “ugly” CRT monitor issue. Again, she missed some major advantages of the flat screen:

A flat screen monitor is smaller (takes a lot less space on the desk)

It’s lighter (makes my job easier when installing or moving)

And, wait for it - A flat screen monitor USES LESS ENERGY than a CRT. I’m surprised how someone would still think the big CRT is just part of a planned obsolescence program, when the flat screen has so many advantages.

Neither of these issues - the CPU or the monitor - is planned obsolescence. At worst, call this unplanned obsolescence due to technological advances. Perhaps a more understandable comparison would be a car: Annie Leonard is saying that because my car from ten years ago doesn’t have the same performance as a modern car, it must be the fault of planned obsolescence on the part of the car company! I disagree.

And finally, the part that really got me wondering was when Annie basically said we dip our pillows in poison and sleep on them. This one really made me tilt my head and go "huh"? Here are a few interesting observations about that part:

Then Annie Leonard raised the freak-out level: We dip our pillows in BFR (brominated flame retardants), a horribly toxic man-made chemical, and we sleep on them!

Not knowing anything about BFRs, I did some research on this. I found two things:

One, BFRs are used primarily in electronics and electronics plastics. Things like computer circuit boards, the plastic casing around a TV set, around the rubber sheaths encasing wires in a computer, that kind of thing. And the BFRs are chemically bonded to those components. That means they’re not flying into the air, we’re not breathing them in.

Two, I was unable to find any evidence of companies dipping pillows or pillowcases in BFRs before selling them. I find this quote interesting:

“There is no federal standard requiring flame resistance of bed clothes, such as sheets, comforters, mattress pads and pillows. Additionally, the industry tends to avoid use of flame retardant chemicals on sheets, pillowcases and blankets because they have direct contact with skin, according to Gordon Damant.”

Anyway, I feel better now that I've done a bit more research on the subject. As usual, I end up thinking that the truth of the matter lies between the extremes.

Now the real question... why haven't I thrown away my huge 19" CRT monitor? ;o)
John

The Golden Arrow of Consumption

In recent months I've thought a bit about living "green". On a site that I visit frequently I've been reading a thread about the subject. Some very interesting thoughts. Also, on a bike forum I visit there is some discussion about this as well. I've recently started commuting to work part of the time on my bike.

Although my political views could be classified as moderate to conservative, I definitely agree with folks who say that we should be smart regarding our stewardship of this planet we're on. However, my views likely fall far short of some folks who believe we as a race have the power to "save the earth". I suppose there's just a bit of realist in me. Or maybe I just don't understand enough to know.

Either way, I came across an interesting online video today. This video claims many of the things that I have suspected for years about our culture today. As with many things like this, it has its political statements here and there (and I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing). But the information seems to have a good deal of common sense to it even though some of it is obviously over-simplified.

The reason I've decided to post this here, though, is that it made me think about things in a new way. Over the years I've noticed this "consumption" behaviour in myself. Using things up to get new ones. Getting a newer and "better" version of something that still works perfectly well. The video claims that of all the goods purchased, only 1% are still in use within six months. There is also some interesting discussion of "consumption society" and "planned obsolescence". After viewing the video I bumped around the internet doing a bit more reading, and came across this quote:

"Paul Wachtel writes in The Poverty of Affluence: "Having more and newer things each year has become not just something we want but something we need. The idea of more, ever-increasing wealth, has become the center of our identity and our security, and we are caught up by it as the addict is by his drugs."

- source: http://www.eartheasy.com/article_consumer_culture.htm

After viewing the video, I'm actually glad I spend so much time on my bike.

Anyway, here's the site:

The Story of Stuff

John

Finding My Way in the Dark

Last week I began commuting to work by bicycle from time to time. This is a huge change for me. My friend and neighbor Don recently purchased a commuter bike as well. Fortunately, he hasn't been in quite the hurry I was to get into the commuting swing. I've learned a few lessons along the way the last couple weeks (and have one or two lumps to prove it). Anyhoo... tonight I sent him an e-mail with a few suggestions regarding commuting. Now, I'm far from an authority on this, and I'm sure others could add to this list, but hopefully there are a few useful things to consider here.

1. Know the conditions of your route at all times. What is the ice condition? What is the pavement condition? What is the traffic like when you will be riding? This is especially important for the route you take in the morning when it's dark.

2. Be sure your bike is visible. Not just the flashers and such, but the bike itself. Mine is lit up like a Christmas tree and I've had little to no problems with cars being close to me.

3. When ice and snow hit, do one of two things. Either get some studded tires and practice riding with them to learn how they work, or stay home.

4. You can't possibly have enough light in front of you. Don't skimp on front lighting. I'm getting by with one very nice front light (a Nightrider Sol), but I should have another (and will, as soon as the money will allow).

5. Bring a variety of cycling clothes with you to work. You never know exactly what the conditions will be when you leave for home. Be ready for everything and make your cycling clothing do double duty if necessary to save packing space. And don't forget to keep some food with you at all times.

6. Store what work clothing you can at work. I store a sweatshirt and my shoes at work. Less to carry on the bike.

7. Be ready to ride outside of your comfort zone when you first start commuting. But don't take this as a license to be stupid. Be realistic about your limitations. But, at the same time, don't underestimate what you can accomplish. Small steps.

8. Enjoy the ride. This one is taking me some time to grasp fully. After a couple of morning commutes now I've started to look around a bit (while still being vigilant of the conditions around me). There are some pretty cool things to see at 6am. In the dark. On a bike.

9. Don't race. This is a commute, not a Hines paceline. You're likely not riding your sexy road bike, so don't try to be sexy. Ride well within yourself.

10. Be prepared for people at work to be amazed. They will not understand you, but they will respect you. And, truth be known, you'll feel pretty good about yourself at the end of the day too.

My $.02. These are as much for me as they are for anyone else. Hope this helps.
John