Thursday, June 30, 2016

2016/06/30 Snake Update

Here's an update on the dead snake I saw on the road Monday.

My friend Jeff emailed me with a similiar photo  that he had and told me it was a Kingsnake.

According to Wikipedia, kingsnakes use constriction to kill their prey which includes other snakes, even venomous ones. Thus the name "king".

Thanks Jeff!

Later,
Steve

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

2016/06/28 - Snakes!

I saw this dead snake on Easely Road this morning during my bike ride.

I have never seen a snake like this in Colorado, and have no idea what kind it is. I welcome suggestions.

This one was about 5 feet long if stretched out.


Later,
Steve

Saturday, June 18, 2016

2016/06/18 - A 14er by Bicycle, Work Dogs?, Naked Humans

Mike Via and I rode our bikes to the top of Mount Evans this morning. 

We started from Echo Lake at 5:34 AM and 4 hours and 20 minutes later we were the first bikes on top. 

It was a perfect weather day. There was no wind, 48 degrees at the start, and 60 degrees by the time we reached the top. 

During the hour that we rode down, we passed at least 100 riders going up.
.....
Every time I hear the expression "I worked like a dog", I wonder what kind of work his or her dog does. 

My dogs never worked a day in their lives.
.....
The other day I was sitting and observing people in a busy shopping mall.
I came to the conclusion that adult humans are one of the ugliest animals on the planet and it's a good thing we hide our bodies with clothing. 
If I could see everyone, everywhere, without clothing, I would never stop throwing up.
Later,
Steve

Monday, June 13, 2016

2016/06/13 - Retirement, Uncle Charlie

While updating my cycling stats this morning I realized that I have put twice as many miles on my bike than I have on my car so far this year. 
.....


My uncle Charlie lived on the water on Long Island and he always had boats. I don't think he ever bought a new boat, he always bought boats that needed repairs, which he was usually pretty good at doing. 

Uncle Charlie loved his little sister, my mom, and was always happy to take us out fishing whenever she wanted. It also gave him a day to relax and drink beer all day. But not always.

Unfortunately the gasoline engines in Charlie's boats were always breaking down and I have more than one memory of us having to get towed to shore by the Coast Guard.  


Sometimes it seemed as if uncle Charlie spent more time below us in the engine compartment than he did up on deck. 

There was one day when we were hours out to sea and the engine broke down. I was with my two female cousins. Our ages ranged from 3 to 6 (me). 

We were having a great day fishing, swimming, sun bathing, eating sandwiches and drinking soda. Meanwhile uncle Charlie was below us, banging away in the hot engine hole on a hot summer day.

Kids can be so oblivious to a touchy situation. What me worry? Uncle Charlie would either fix it, or give up and call for a tow like he always did.

Not realizing the slow fuse we were lighting, my cousins and I held hands and danced around in a circle on the deck directly above Uncle Charlie singing (to the tune of Camptown Races):

"We're stuck out here in the middle of the bay
      DoDa, DoDa
  Were stuck out here in the middle of the bay
      All the DoDa day
  All the DoDa day, All the DoDa day ... etc etc" 

We sang this over and over and over again until uncle Charlie's head popped out of the deck hole screaming "SHUT UP!!!".

He scared us half to death, I don't think we said another word all day.

(Mom... This story was for you.)

Later,
Steve
PS: Funny thing... As a boy I always thought my Uncle Charlie was rich. Yes... He was a lot better off than we were, but now when I look at the picture above of his boat and back yard, the word "rich" does not come to mind.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

2016/06/05 - Makeup

According to the Stuff You Should Know podcast titled "How Makeup Works", the average woman who wears makeup absorbs FIVE POUNDS of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic, through her skin each year.

In Europe, more than 1,300 chemicals are banned from use in cosmetics, whereas only 11 are prohibited are here in the US.

In the US, laws that regulate the ingredients in cosmetics have not changed since 1935.

It's a hugh mistake to think that our skin is impermeable, when actually it absorbs many of the chemicals that we use in our soaps, laundry detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, sunscreen, hair products, etc.

Later,
Steve

Friday, June 3, 2016

2016/06/03 - Wildlife, Stravaholism

Found this little guy trying to cross the bike path.  

It looked like just another small leaf and I almost ran it over!

Funny thing, I found the exact same type and size turtle when I was a boy and it was my only pet growing up.

He/she will be the latest addition to our menagerie consisting of 2 cats, 2 birds, 290 gallons of fish tanks, 1 tortoise, and 1 dog.
.....

My name is Steve, and I'm a Stravaholic. 

It's too late for me, but maybe I can save you! 

Don't even think of trying Strava. It's dangerously addictive, and within no time will have you cycling like a crazy person.

Later,
Steve