Journal
01 July 2009 | 8:36 PM
How to Pack a Thule Bike Box
~~~
Day’s Verse:
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
1. (Not shown) Remove pedals. If you don't know how, this site describes an effective method. Unfortunate experience has taught me to do this while the bike still has wheels.
2. Remove wheels. First shift all the way into the smallest cog on the cassette. This will make it easier to remove and put on the rear wheel.
2. a) Remove skewers from wheels and store in the handy little bag provided by Thule. Do not lose the springs that are likely to pop off when you take the skewer out of the wheel.
3. Put the wheels in the box after letting all the air out of the tires (this is particularly key if you plan to fly with your bike).
3. a) Put the rear wheel in first with the cassette side up, and the front wheel in second, overlapping. Be sure to wrap disc brake rotors, which will be against the outer wall of the box, with lots of bubble wrap to try to avoid bending them. The picture below doesn't actually show wheel configuration in the box.
3. b) Place the large black plastic sheet atop the wheels, with the larger hole around the cassette. Top with one of the foam pieces.
4. Align the cranks with the chainstay. Then wrap the chain in one of the Thule-provided wraps and use the velcro to secure the wrapped-up chain to the chainstay. This keeps your chain from getting muck all over or scratching the paint.
4. a) If you have fenders, remove them at this point, screwing screws back into their places after removing the fenders so as not to lose any of them. It is much easier to take fenders off without wheels on the bike. This is also a good opportunity to clean hard-to-reach bits of the frame.
5. Remove the handlebars by loosening the bolts on the headset. Lift the handlebars off, carefully not losing the screw or top of the headset. Put the headset back together when the handlebars are removed to ensure all the pieces are there.
5. a) Remove the saddle and seatpost, preferably in one unit, and set aside. Before doing so, make sure the seat height is marked somehow. Also remove saddle bag, pumps, and, if necessary, water-bottle holders.
5. b) Carefully place the frame-and-handlebars network, now only connected by cables, into the box, orienting them so no parts stick off the edges of the box.
NOTE: Be especially careful with odometers that have wires from the front wheel to the handlebars. It is very easy to snap that small of a wire while maneuvering the handlebars and frame into position.
6. Use the Thule-provided straps to secure everything that could move as firmly as possible. There are two places to thread the straps through on each side of the box. Wrap delicate or easily scratched parts with bubble wrap or pipe insulation cut to size.
6. a) Find a home for all the remaining parts: The saddle and seatpost, which may have to go in separately; pedals, wrapped up to keep grease off bike and padding; and miscellaneous items such as pump, saddle bag, and front light, etc.
NOTE: If you plan to fly with the bike, remove any CO2 cartridges from your saddle bag if you have any and leave them at home. Buy some at your destination if you have to. Flying with compressed air is strongly frowned upon.
7. Cover the secured bike and its parts with the other piece of foam. Carefully place the lid on the box, making sure no bike parts protrude. This will require some finagling and probably a judicious application of force, so check to be sure all the edges are securely closed around the box. Usually it is easiest to clip the top and bottom straps first. For the side straps, loosen them all the way, clip them, and then tighten the side straps in increments, making sure the lid is really closed all the way around.
7. a) Optionally you can lock both sides of the case with long locks. However, if you plan on flying, be sure to use TSA-approved locks or leave it unlocked. Also be warned that the TSA is likely to significantly unpack your careful packing job and not seal the box effectively when finished with their check. (As you can probably tell, I do not advocate flying with a bike unless you don't have the time to ship it ground.)
8. Congratulations! You have now spent at least an hour becoming intimately acquainted with your bike and how to take it apart. Don't forget to bring the instructions with you so you can put the bike back together again on the other end.
8. a) Unless you feel extremely confident with your ability to rebuild your bike, it is a good idea to have a bike mechanic take a quick look at the bike once you put it back together. The handlebars and headset in particular can be difficult to get back together securely and straight (at least in my experience).
Day’s Verse:
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
1. (Not shown) Remove pedals. If you don't know how, this site describes an effective method. Unfortunate experience has taught me to do this while the bike still has wheels.
2. Remove wheels. First shift all the way into the smallest cog on the cassette. This will make it easier to remove and put on the rear wheel.
2. a) Remove skewers from wheels and store in the handy little bag provided by Thule. Do not lose the springs that are likely to pop off when you take the skewer out of the wheel.
3. Put the wheels in the box after letting all the air out of the tires (this is particularly key if you plan to fly with your bike).
3. a) Put the rear wheel in first with the cassette side up, and the front wheel in second, overlapping. Be sure to wrap disc brake rotors, which will be against the outer wall of the box, with lots of bubble wrap to try to avoid bending them. The picture below doesn't actually show wheel configuration in the box.
3. b) Place the large black plastic sheet atop the wheels, with the larger hole around the cassette. Top with one of the foam pieces.
4. Align the cranks with the chainstay. Then wrap the chain in one of the Thule-provided wraps and use the velcro to secure the wrapped-up chain to the chainstay. This keeps your chain from getting muck all over or scratching the paint.
4. a) If you have fenders, remove them at this point, screwing screws back into their places after removing the fenders so as not to lose any of them. It is much easier to take fenders off without wheels on the bike. This is also a good opportunity to clean hard-to-reach bits of the frame.
5. Remove the handlebars by loosening the bolts on the headset. Lift the handlebars off, carefully not losing the screw or top of the headset. Put the headset back together when the handlebars are removed to ensure all the pieces are there.
5. a) Remove the saddle and seatpost, preferably in one unit, and set aside. Before doing so, make sure the seat height is marked somehow. Also remove saddle bag, pumps, and, if necessary, water-bottle holders.
5. b) Carefully place the frame-and-handlebars network, now only connected by cables, into the box, orienting them so no parts stick off the edges of the box.
NOTE: Be especially careful with odometers that have wires from the front wheel to the handlebars. It is very easy to snap that small of a wire while maneuvering the handlebars and frame into position.
6. Use the Thule-provided straps to secure everything that could move as firmly as possible. There are two places to thread the straps through on each side of the box. Wrap delicate or easily scratched parts with bubble wrap or pipe insulation cut to size.
6. a) Find a home for all the remaining parts: The saddle and seatpost, which may have to go in separately; pedals, wrapped up to keep grease off bike and padding; and miscellaneous items such as pump, saddle bag, and front light, etc.
NOTE: If you plan to fly with the bike, remove any CO2 cartridges from your saddle bag if you have any and leave them at home. Buy some at your destination if you have to. Flying with compressed air is strongly frowned upon.
7. Cover the secured bike and its parts with the other piece of foam. Carefully place the lid on the box, making sure no bike parts protrude. This will require some finagling and probably a judicious application of force, so check to be sure all the edges are securely closed around the box. Usually it is easiest to clip the top and bottom straps first. For the side straps, loosen them all the way, clip them, and then tighten the side straps in increments, making sure the lid is really closed all the way around.
7. a) Optionally you can lock both sides of the case with long locks. However, if you plan on flying, be sure to use TSA-approved locks or leave it unlocked. Also be warned that the TSA is likely to significantly unpack your careful packing job and not seal the box effectively when finished with their check. (As you can probably tell, I do not advocate flying with a bike unless you don't have the time to ship it ground.)
8. Congratulations! You have now spent at least an hour becoming intimately acquainted with your bike and how to take it apart. Don't forget to bring the instructions with you so you can put the bike back together again on the other end.
8. a) Unless you feel extremely confident with your ability to rebuild your bike, it is a good idea to have a bike mechanic take a quick look at the bike once you put it back together. The handlebars and headset in particular can be difficult to get back together securely and straight (at least in my experience).
Posted by Katie ::
30 June 2009 | 8:36 PM
Cape Cod Getaway: Katie's Turn
~~~
Day’s Verse:
He [the righteous man] will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112:7
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
I’m sure you’ve all been dying to hear a blow-by-blow account of all 150 miles of this weekend’s the Cape Cod Getaway. Sadly, you’re going to be disappointed, because in almost all respects it was nearly identical to last year’s CCG ride. That means you can just read last year’s post and imagine that I wrote it for this year. Some different highlights:
So I completed the Cape Cod Getaway without any serious mishaps or difficulties, and although I felt quite tired on Sunday, by Monday I felt pretty good and I commuted by bike without discomfort today. Sadly, today is the only day I’ll have commuted on Artemis: She is now boxed up and tomorrow starts her slow, expensive trek across the country, where she will (hopefully) meet me in Kirkland next Thursday. The rest of the week and all next week I’ll be riding Charlotte, which will give me a true appreciation when I get back on Artemis. More on the whole getting-Artemis-to-Seattle thing in another post.
Day’s Verse:
He [the righteous man] will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112:7
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
I’m sure you’ve all been dying to hear a blow-by-blow account of all 150 miles of this weekend’s the Cape Cod Getaway. Sadly, you’re going to be disappointed, because in almost all respects it was nearly identical to last year’s CCG ride. That means you can just read last year’s post and imagine that I wrote it for this year. Some different highlights:
- Despite some initial difficulties, I met up with Gwenn and Dave, a couple I found through an online bike forum; we’ve ridden together on a couple of training rides. We rode together through Mile 40 on Day 1. At 40 miles we at lunch and I went off to ride by myself the rest of the way. The first day I passed a lot of people -- we started towards the back to let the crowds thin out a bit -- and averaged 14.9 mph. Actually I averaged 14 mpg for the first half and significantly above that the second half. I got in feeling very perky and pleased it hadn’t rained.
- We set up our tent in the SHADE this time, having learned our lesson last time. Later in the afternoon it clouded over and everything was shady, but we still felt clever for picking a shady spot. Even later -- some time in the night -- we found out that we’d also picked a spot directly beneath bathroom windows, so the light kept coming on and brightening our tent as people came and used the bathroom. That wasn’t so handy until about 3:30 am, when we woke up and needed light, but didn’t have any. Then somebody came into that bathroom and we had lots of nice diffuse light, perfect for eyes at o-dark-hundred.
- I tried to focus on recovery foods more this time, so I drank a bunch of chocolate milk, which is full of much-needed carbs, and made sure to eat a Clif bar immediately after getting off the bike, as well as continuing to eat mainly carbs (as instructed by my The Cyclist’s Food Guide book)
- In the afternoon Saturday Gwenn and Dave found us and we played Yahtzee and went to dinner together. It was very nice to have other people to spend time with. Last year Saturday afternoon felt extremely long.
- Sunday was very cool and misty all day. I feared rain both days and carried my arm warmers and vest both days, but never used them because it never actually started raining. Early on Sunday -- from about 5:00 am when I started riding to maybe 7:30 or so -- I had trouble with mist forming on my glasses and obscuring my view. Fortunately I was almost completely alone, except for the occasional speedy guy who passed me without so much as an "On your left." Sunday I felt exceptionally tired, despite having tried to do lots of recovering on Saturday.
- There was a strong northerly wind all day on Sunday, which was a pretty major bummer because I spent most of the day going north up the Cape all by myself. People occasionally passed me, but going fast enough I knew I couldn’t keep up. I never found somebody going remotely near my pace all day, so I ended up just plugging along by myself, seeing the same people at rest stops and being passed by the same guys a few miles later. It wasn’t that great on Sunday, honestly.
- On the bright side, the driver of one of the motorcycle SAG vehicles cheered for me vigorously each time she passed me (which was often), and at the end congratulated me. Another couple of riders also told me they were really impressed by my riding, which was nice to hear, at least.
- We didn’t even stay around for me to shower on Sunday. I just wanted to go home, so we left almost immediately after I got off my bike and ascertained that they had only bad wraps for lunch. (Food on the Cape Cod Getaway leaves much to be desired. Who wants spicy pulled pork, spicy beans, and spicy cold pasta salad for dinner on Saturday after having ridden 75 miles and with another 75 left to go the next day? Ugh.) Sadly, it took us almost 4 hours to get home, 2 of which we spent just getting off the Cape. I slept most of that time so it didn’t feel so long, but I was extremely ready to get out of my sweaty bike clothes by the time we finally got home.
So I completed the Cape Cod Getaway without any serious mishaps or difficulties, and although I felt quite tired on Sunday, by Monday I felt pretty good and I commuted by bike without discomfort today. Sadly, today is the only day I’ll have commuted on Artemis: She is now boxed up and tomorrow starts her slow, expensive trek across the country, where she will (hopefully) meet me in Kirkland next Thursday. The rest of the week and all next week I’ll be riding Charlotte, which will give me a true appreciation when I get back on Artemis. More on the whole getting-Artemis-to-Seattle thing in another post.
Posted by Katie ::
28 June 2009 | 7:09 AM
Cape Cod Getaway - Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning
~~~
Day’s Verse:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
From Ian:
Katie made it to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzard's Bay at 1:45 PM Saturday afternoon! She did in fact meet up with her friends Saturday morning and rode with them for about half the route. She was in good spirits when she got in, and unlike last year her knees weren't hurting. She attributes this to having more gears. Last year she only had to gears in the front and they were set up for speed rather than climbing hills. It impressed several of the guys she rode with when she told them what gearing she used to climb hills. This year with a triple in front the hills weren't nearly as killer.
Once she got in we set up the tent in the shadow of one of the dorm buildings, having learned our lesson last year. As Katie rested in the shade I trekked to and from the car bringing our stuff over to the tent. And I do mean trekked. Google Maps says that it's a third of a mile from the parking lot to where we camped. When you've got to make 2-3 trips to get all the stuff it really adds up. On the plus side a couple of women commented that I was the best husband ever, while their husbands wanted me to stop making them look so bad.
The rest of the afternoon was spent getting cleaned up, resting, feasting on delicious food (although not the best food when you have to ride 75 miles the next day) and hanging out. When played Yahtzee with Gwen and Dave, the people Katie met up with this morning. Since we were planning on getting up early tomorrow (~3:30 AM) we decided to go to bed at 8:00 PM.
All I will say about that night is that it was short and restless.
This morning we woke up and starting packing up. With the two of us it went very quickly and only required two trips to the car. Katie left at 5:00 AM and I left shortly after. I'm predicting Katie will probably get in to Provincetown around 10:00 AM.
One thing worth mentioning: The weather has held so far. It never rained on Saturday, never stormed or rained overnight and so far it hasn't rained yet today (at least where I've been). It is really overcast right now but that just means that Katie doesn't have to ride in the sun. It may even clear up like it did last year. So anyway, the forecast was completely wrong. I was watching the weather radar on my phone and despite ominous clouds in the vicinity they never actually passed over us.
And now the time you've all been waiting for, pictures from Saturday afternoon:
A crazy neon green bike
Katie arriving triumphantly 1
Katie arriving triumphantly 2
Katie arriving triumphantly 3
The main tent area 1
The main tent area 2
The Maritime Academy training ship
Firefly's provided the food
The beer tent line
Some cool cloud formations
I didn't have a chance to take a picture of Katie this morning because it was really dark.
If Katie's feeling up to it she may blog about her experiences tonight, otherwise I'm sure she'll do it by the end of the week.
Day’s Verse:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
From Ian:
Katie made it to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzard's Bay at 1:45 PM Saturday afternoon! She did in fact meet up with her friends Saturday morning and rode with them for about half the route. She was in good spirits when she got in, and unlike last year her knees weren't hurting. She attributes this to having more gears. Last year she only had to gears in the front and they were set up for speed rather than climbing hills. It impressed several of the guys she rode with when she told them what gearing she used to climb hills. This year with a triple in front the hills weren't nearly as killer.
Once she got in we set up the tent in the shadow of one of the dorm buildings, having learned our lesson last year. As Katie rested in the shade I trekked to and from the car bringing our stuff over to the tent. And I do mean trekked. Google Maps says that it's a third of a mile from the parking lot to where we camped. When you've got to make 2-3 trips to get all the stuff it really adds up. On the plus side a couple of women commented that I was the best husband ever, while their husbands wanted me to stop making them look so bad.
The rest of the afternoon was spent getting cleaned up, resting, feasting on delicious food (although not the best food when you have to ride 75 miles the next day) and hanging out. When played Yahtzee with Gwen and Dave, the people Katie met up with this morning. Since we were planning on getting up early tomorrow (~3:30 AM) we decided to go to bed at 8:00 PM.
All I will say about that night is that it was short and restless.
This morning we woke up and starting packing up. With the two of us it went very quickly and only required two trips to the car. Katie left at 5:00 AM and I left shortly after. I'm predicting Katie will probably get in to Provincetown around 10:00 AM.
One thing worth mentioning: The weather has held so far. It never rained on Saturday, never stormed or rained overnight and so far it hasn't rained yet today (at least where I've been). It is really overcast right now but that just means that Katie doesn't have to ride in the sun. It may even clear up like it did last year. So anyway, the forecast was completely wrong. I was watching the weather radar on my phone and despite ominous clouds in the vicinity they never actually passed over us.
And now the time you've all been waiting for, pictures from Saturday afternoon:
A crazy neon green bike
Katie arriving triumphantly 1
Katie arriving triumphantly 2
Katie arriving triumphantly 3
The main tent area 1
The main tent area 2
The Maritime Academy training ship
Firefly's provided the food
The beer tent line
Some cool cloud formations
I didn't have a chance to take a picture of Katie this morning because it was really dark.
If Katie's feeling up to it she may blog about her experiences tonight, otherwise I'm sure she'll do it by the end of the week.
Posted by Katie ::
27 June 2009 | 8:21 AM
Cape Cod Getaway - Saturday Morning
~~~
Day’s Verse:
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
From Ian:
If you've been reading Katie's blog recently (and if you haven't, shame on you) you may have noticed that she's been training for a couple of long bike rides. Well today begins the first one: The National MS Society Cape Cod Getaway. After a very busy day yesterday (chores for me, work for Katie) we went to bed at 9:00 PM knowing that a mere seven hours later we would be dragging ourselves out of bed. After eating breakfast and packing some last minute things we left our apartment and headed to Quincy.
We arrived at Squantum Point Park shortly before 6:00 AM. Despite the early hour there were already a couple hundred people vigorously preparing for a 75 mile ride. Katie checked in with the ride people while I stood around checking the weather on my phone. We've been concerned this last week that the weekend would be really nasty and despite the forecast saying over 50% of thunderstorms and rain it was nice and sunny at the park. In fact, it doesn't look like there are many clouds to be had in the area. This being New England, that could change at any moment, but we're hoping to not have to seek refuge in a motel.
After Katie checked in, she went through her usual bike ride prep:
Load jersey with food
Fill tires with air
Slather on sunscreen
She was planning on meeting some people she met on another ride, so we heading over to the general meeting area. I don't know that she ever found them but she did find a guy she met on the ride last year (Steve, the guy with the unicorn on his helmet). It seems that he and his wife formed a team and they wanted to invite Katie but they didn't have our contact info. That's unfortunate, but at least Katie has some people to ride with.
At the last minute she decided to take her vest and arm warmers in case the weather got bad so we walked back to the car where we passionately embraced before she headed to the start point and I headed out. Now I'm hanging out in a Panera Bread for a couple of hours before heading down to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, which is the stop over point for today.
Here are the routes Katie is riding this weekend:
Saturday - Quincy to Bourne
Sunday - Bourne to Provincetown
Here are a few pictures I took this morning:
Katie posing before the ride 1
Katie posing before the ride 2
Katie posing before the ride 3
Katie is excited
Squantum Point Park Views 1
Squantum Point Park Views 2
Squantum Point Park Views 3
Me hanging out beforehand
Katie riding to the starting area 1
Katie riding to the starting area 2
Katie riding to the starting area 3
Day’s Verse:
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
From Ian:
If you've been reading Katie's blog recently (and if you haven't, shame on you) you may have noticed that she's been training for a couple of long bike rides. Well today begins the first one: The National MS Society Cape Cod Getaway. After a very busy day yesterday (chores for me, work for Katie) we went to bed at 9:00 PM knowing that a mere seven hours later we would be dragging ourselves out of bed. After eating breakfast and packing some last minute things we left our apartment and headed to Quincy.
We arrived at Squantum Point Park shortly before 6:00 AM. Despite the early hour there were already a couple hundred people vigorously preparing for a 75 mile ride. Katie checked in with the ride people while I stood around checking the weather on my phone. We've been concerned this last week that the weekend would be really nasty and despite the forecast saying over 50% of thunderstorms and rain it was nice and sunny at the park. In fact, it doesn't look like there are many clouds to be had in the area. This being New England, that could change at any moment, but we're hoping to not have to seek refuge in a motel.
After Katie checked in, she went through her usual bike ride prep:
Load jersey with food
Fill tires with air
Slather on sunscreen
She was planning on meeting some people she met on another ride, so we heading over to the general meeting area. I don't know that she ever found them but she did find a guy she met on the ride last year (Steve, the guy with the unicorn on his helmet). It seems that he and his wife formed a team and they wanted to invite Katie but they didn't have our contact info. That's unfortunate, but at least Katie has some people to ride with.
At the last minute she decided to take her vest and arm warmers in case the weather got bad so we walked back to the car where we passionately embraced before she headed to the start point and I headed out. Now I'm hanging out in a Panera Bread for a couple of hours before heading down to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, which is the stop over point for today.
Here are the routes Katie is riding this weekend:
Saturday - Quincy to Bourne
Sunday - Bourne to Provincetown
Here are a few pictures I took this morning:
Katie posing before the ride 1
Katie posing before the ride 2
Katie posing before the ride 3
Katie is excited
Squantum Point Park Views 1
Squantum Point Park Views 2
Squantum Point Park Views 3
Me hanging out beforehand
Katie riding to the starting area 1
Katie riding to the starting area 2
Katie riding to the starting area 3
Posted by Katie ::
26 June 2009 | 2:34 PM
Last One Standing Wins
~~~
Day’s Verse:
Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
Proverbs 14:10
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
Day’s Verse:
Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
Proverbs 14:10
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
Posted by Katie ::
25 June 2009 | 3:20 PM
Big, Bad News
~~~
Day’s Verse:
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
More layoffs at my company. I still have a job, but I don’t know what it is -- they are eliminating the reporting group and splitting it into a "Publishing" group that just formats, PDFs, and ships reports; and a "Study Specialist" group that will support scientific staff in some as-yet-undefined way. I want to ask, "Isn’t there an Option C?"
Day’s Verse:
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
More layoffs at my company. I still have a job, but I don’t know what it is -- they are eliminating the reporting group and splitting it into a "Publishing" group that just formats, PDFs, and ships reports; and a "Study Specialist" group that will support scientific staff in some as-yet-undefined way. I want to ask, "Isn’t there an Option C?"
Posted by Katie ::
Open Letter to New England Weather
~~~
Day’s Verse:
Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.
James 5:7-8
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
Dear New England Weather,
I know it's a big job being the weather. You’re the most complicated system in the world and scientists need supercomputers to even attempt to predict your patterns. So I really appreciate that you do your best for us: snow in the winter, rain in the spring, sun in the summer, rain in the fall -- we admire this consistency.
But, Weather, as you may have noticed, it is now June 25. I hate to sound like a whiner, but I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that we're ready for some summery weather now. The overcast, rainy, windy days are all very nice, and I'm sure we appreciate not sweating to death in 95°F humid days, but we're ready for some sun. The plants are very green thanks to the incessant rain, and I think they'd probably like some sun, too.
Plus, Weather, all this heavy drizzle (did you notice that this is the 5th day in a row of rain? And, if rumors are correct, the 22nd overcast day this month?) is awfully hard on my bike chain -- I'm having to clean it like it's winter! I have been wearing long pants, jackets, wool socks, vests, and sleeves all month when normally you've made those items totally superfluous by this point. Frankly, I'm ready to see something other than rain in the forecast for a while, if you don't mind.
I hope you consider my petition, especially since the Cape Cod Getaway,is this weekend. I'm quite sure that a couple sunny, nice days would bring the 1,000+ cyclists on that ride great joy. I know I would really appreciate not getting off my bike soaking wet for a change.
Sincerely,
Katie
-----
Day’s Verse:
Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.
James 5:7-8
~~~
Please help me raise money for the MS Bike Tour Cape Cod Getaway. Donate today on my MS Participant page.
~~~
Dear New England Weather,
I know it's a big job being the weather. You’re the most complicated system in the world and scientists need supercomputers to even attempt to predict your patterns. So I really appreciate that you do your best for us: snow in the winter, rain in the spring, sun in the summer, rain in the fall -- we admire this consistency.But, Weather, as you may have noticed, it is now June 25. I hate to sound like a whiner, but I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that we're ready for some summery weather now. The overcast, rainy, windy days are all very nice, and I'm sure we appreciate not sweating to death in 95°F humid days, but we're ready for some sun. The plants are very green thanks to the incessant rain, and I think they'd probably like some sun, too.
Plus, Weather, all this heavy drizzle (did you notice that this is the 5th day in a row of rain? And, if rumors are correct, the 22nd overcast day this month?) is awfully hard on my bike chain -- I'm having to clean it like it's winter! I have been wearing long pants, jackets, wool socks, vests, and sleeves all month when normally you've made those items totally superfluous by this point. Frankly, I'm ready to see something other than rain in the forecast for a while, if you don't mind.
I hope you consider my petition, especially since the Cape Cod Getaway,is this weekend. I'm quite sure that a couple sunny, nice days would bring the 1,000+ cyclists on that ride great joy. I know I would really appreciate not getting off my bike soaking wet for a change.
Sincerely,
Katie
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