WEEKEND ending 9-12-2010

WEEKEND ending 9-12-2010

Kind of a boring weekend. Friday and Saturday I had a dull headache pretty much the whole time. I didn't do much. Friday after work when I got home, there was a book waiting for me. My sister Mary sent me Robert Penn's "It's All About The Bike". Terrific book for a cyclist nut like me, and highly recommended.

A guy who's ridden bikes his whole life, literally all around the world, decides to build a bike to his exact specifications, from the custom frame to the spokes, seat, etc. As he tells the story of his custom tailored bike, he revisits the history of the bicycle. Sounds boring, I'm sure, but it was actually a great read. Then sister Mary sent me links (youtube) to the original videos (BBC) of his adventures when he was putting this bike together. So, Friday PM and Saturday off and on all day, I read the book and watched the videos. Reading the book was a terrific way to ride out a "feel bad" storm. THANKS, MARY!

Also on Saturday, Austin had gotten some paint and wanted a football field painted out back so we did that (!) and cooked burgers for dinner. Then we watched some TV. I was feeling about 60% of normal, I'd say.

This morning I felt better, so the whole family road tripped to Montana Charlie's, a flea market up in Bolingbrook. Julie's idea. $3 admission for a carload. There were some bargains there and some interesting stuff to look at. It was a beautiful day and we had a good time there.

After we got home, I watched some of the White Sox (done, they're done!) and Bears (suck, they suck!) games (funny thing is they both WON and I'm still disparaging them) and then worked on my bike a little bit. Ever since I got caught in a downpour about 2 months ago, squeaks keep showing up when I ride my bike. What's happened is that the rain drove the lube out of some strategic metal to metal contact points. Today I finally got brave enough to disassemble the headset and found another lubricant-starved location. Then I hit the road.

It felt good to ride again, but I don't think I had ridden in a week and it felt like it. I didn't have the lungs or legs I usually have for the climbs. Not sure if it was because I hadn't ridden lately or because I'm feeling the effects of the chemo. Then again, I have been eating like a hog since my last chemo, maybe that had something to do with it, too. I did about 22 miles and by the end, it was a little bit like I was ENDURING it instead of the usual, which would be just knocking it out. But better that I'm sitting here GLAD tonight that I did it instead of REGRETTING that I didn't.

I would say that today I felt about 75-80% of my usual self today. Still had a little bit of a headache through a lot of the day. But things do taste normal again, which is great.

I notice that the inside of my mouth is a little tender. I'd heard that could happen, because the chemo attacks cells that divide a lot and the cells in your mouth would fall in that category. Soft toothbrush, gentle flossing, and zero-alcohol mouth wash are in order.

Have a great week!