Last week's bike ride may be my last

As promised here is the picture I wanted to take last week on my bike ride.  BTW, I posted a short video about that bike ride here.  It was a boring day but one I enjoyed just for that reason.  Unfortuneately, I am afraid it might be the last time I take on such an endeavor.  I am getting old.  My reaction time is not as sharp as it once was.  Los Angeles is becoming very congested and traffic conditions are not the best for bicycle riding.  At one time I was able to take in the sights and sounds of my journey.  Now, my focus needs to be maintained on avoiding the dangers made possible by too many in-attentive drivers driving too many cars.  Also, I am no spring chicken.  About two thirds into my ride my lower back began to ache.  I have had trouble with my hip abductors before (muscles which bring your legs up as in a climbing motion) and the trouble seems ready to return.  From a cost versus benefit viewpoint the long bike ride through the city does not provide the rewards worth the risks taken. 

The picture?  Well I drive by this street and love them trees.  But when I got there I realized that the best vantage point is from the middle of the intersection.  I was not going to stand in the middle of the street to take a picture.  Once again, too dangerous.  Also I realized that I always have sunglasses on when I drive and the tint of the glasses I wear complement the scene.  So I put my a sunglasses in front of the lens to take the picture above.  I uploaded a second picture.  I love taking pictures of the sky with tree branches in the foreground. 

Have a nice week.

Tuesday was my father's birthday.  He turned 68.  This would be a great place to insert some biographical notes and mention my feelings towards him but maybe a bit too much off the intended topic.  Just know that my dad is great person, part of the first generation of our family to migrate to this country and build a home and a life in this 'brave new world' that is America.  I am proud of my dad and couldn't imagine a life without him nor do I want to.  ANYWAYS, at 2 am. Wednesday I knew there was cake in the fridge so I journeyed to the Laundry Room where a fridge holds articles which don't fit in the kitchen refrigerator.  The Laundry Room has many things scattered about the floor; things like gallons of bleach and detergent, empty buckets and utility towels.  I had cake in the mind so I was unwary of anything else.  I was just about to open the fridge door when BAM!!! my left foot kicked a two gallon bleach container.  Actually, it was more like the smallest toe on that foot kicked the bleach.  It hurt like a (matriarchal expletive).  I think either the nail was pulled off it's root, or it was pushed in so hard it stabbed down onto the flesh of the toe.  Whatever happened to it, it was bleeding.  I took the picture above Wednesday morning about 5 hours later.  Today, thursday, the nail is still intact but I don't think conventional shoes are going to 'feel right'.  So I am not going to do my normal routine that is go to the gym and use stand up eliptical trainers.  This in a way gives me a chance to take a vacation from myself.  Myself being the guy with the routine.  So what am I doing today?  Walkabout!  I am going to hop on my bike and trek to Santa Monica Beach.  I will take along a camera, tripod and a wide angle lens.  The intention is to have no purpose and in that sense of no-direction connect with myself.  I must admit that I do have in mind a tree lined street in Beverly Hills as a good subject for a picture, so I am not completely sans itenerary.  But for all practical purposes, 'sono in transito senza destinazione'.  And that's okay!

Got lemons, make lemonade.

Travel related words used in entry: migrate, journeyed, vacation, walkabout, trek and transito.  I love when you encounter travellers from other countries who tell you they are on 'holiday'.  It sounds so much nicer than 'vacation'.

Today is the first day of my thirty-ninth year of life.  Next year I will be in my forties.  Pretty, pretty, pretty scary!!  Late thirties provides no welcome sound as it is.  But is it  that bad?  Sometimes I think of it as getting closer to what they call "the golden years."  I am pretty sure that I will be a great old person.  I saw this elderly man some time ago reading the paper while he ate his breakfast at a restaurant.  He was in no hurry and it showed.  A feeling of peace surrounded him.  I thought, "that'll be nice." 

Pigeons on wires?  I took a walk alongside the L.A. river sometime last week and saw these pigeons basking in the late afternoon sun.  Just sitting there together was their thing.  I thought, cool.  Someday soon, maybe I will just sit.  But today?  I can only quote one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost, "...I have miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep."

Happy Birthday to ME!!!