The week is dreary and blah - not the weather but my attitude. I find myself throughout the work days hoping to be somewhere else or hoping to be doing something else. There is uncertainty at work about my assignment and I'm not even enthused about the possible new assignment. The workouts that I have throughout the week are high repetition, lightweight workouts to give the joints more rest.
On Thursday I go walking early in the morning and then ride the motorbike up to the city of Commerce for a design review for work. The organization is doing a pretty good job and there are some very interesting aspects of the job that intrigue me. I ask a number of questions of the intriguing aspects and enjoy the discussions. Eventually I head for home and since the onramp to the freeway is closed, I end up taking surface streets through some nasty neighborhoods until I find my way back onto the freeway.
By Friday there is still uncertainty whether I will be moving my office at work to a different building. I still pack everything up as if I am going to move and eventualy l go home. When I get home I have a good workout with the weights, grab a shower, and go with Person Ti_Ca to pick out some new plants. But we arrive right near lcosing time and do not find the plants that we want. We stop by the grocery store and I get a new antibiotic presecription for a skin infection that has come back (after the last antibiotic did not fully kill it off). The rest of Friday night is spent web programming and relaxing.
Saturday is a very busy day. It starts with a very wet mountain bicycle ride down to the pier and back. Since the bike is all dirty now I spray it down with cleaner and hose it off - now it is shiny again! I watch qualifying for the US Grand Prix and am happy when my favorite driver gets the pole. Person Ti_Ca and I go to the main branch of the Long Beach public library where there are many homeless people hanging around. We find some good books and then head for home. WE both get down for a short nap and then go have Indian food. And finally we relax at home with television and movies.
Sunday starts with a 45 mile ride with Derrick. Today it is wet to start but eventually the sun comes out and we dry out on the ride. SInce there are some bike path closures I take Derrick through parts of Long Beach that he has never been to before and he enjoys the ride. The F1 race is disappointing as my favorite driver only gets second and the world championship will go down to the last race in Brasil next week. As Person Ti_Ca goes out with his sister and friends, I stay at home and work on web programming, raking leaves, and cleaning the house. As much as I enjoy going out and having fun, I also enjoy my solitary times where I can just work away on things that need to get done.
Monday and Tuesday are productive days at work. I make progress on models and during meetings I offer insight and contribute well. Monday and Tuesday are also productive with good workouts as I've increased the weights a bit and gone for less repetitions. On both nights Person Ti_Ca and I do homework before bedtime. And I get in some reading also.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving starts out wet so I run some errands before getting the car washed. When it is clean I rush home and put it away in the garage for later waxing. I get out for a mountain bicycle ride down to the pier and then I mow the lawn. By now I am tired so I take a warm shower and relax as I wait for Person Ti_Ca to come home from school. We go pick up a new laptop and then we work on homework in between various movies on television. When Person Ti_Ca goes off to hang out with a friend I relax around the house.
On Thanksgiving morning I wait a bit to go cycling to let the day warm up. I am still feeling tired and sore from the antibiotics or something so I just go down to the pier and back - usually I would ride long on Thanksgiving morning. Today there is a Long Beach Turkey Trot on the bicycle trail so I eventually get out on surface streets to avoid the runners. The rest of the day is spent watching football, relaxing, working on homework with Person Ti_Ca, and having Thanksgiving dinner with Ti_Ca.
On Friday and Saturday I wait for the morning fog to clear before cycling down to the pier and back. During Saturday's ride I run into George, a former neighbor, and we ride back home together. On both days I manage to wax the World Rally Car and the rims and get it ready for winter. I'm fighting off some sort off illness but finally on Saturday I start to feel quite a bit better. On Friday night Person T_U picks up Person Ti_Ca and me to go see a high school football playoff game. Person T_U went to Long Beach Poly high school and we go attend a game occasionally. Today LB Poly dominates the first half but only leads 6-0. A fog rolls in at halftime and it is hard to see the action and the ball when it is thrown or kicked into the air. But LB Poly eventually comes from behind to win 13-10 and get into the finals next week. On Saturday Person Ti_Ca and I drive to Thaitown to celebrate Person C_T's birthday (from July) though Person L_M cannot make it because her brother is visiting. We have a nice visit and we agree to get together again soon.
I start the Sunday morning ride at the appropriate time and head north on the Los Angeles river trail. It is not foggy when I start but as I head north it gets very foggy and very wet. I just keep on riding along even though at times I cannot feel my fingers (due to the cold and wet conditions). I end up at the Whittier Narrows dam and I still have not run into Derrick, so I turn around and head for home. When I get home there is a text from Derrick indicating that he will ride later due to the heavy fog. A nice warm shower helps me feel better and I put on a heavy sweatshirt for the day to stay warm. I watch a wet and changing condition Brasilian F1 race where my favorite driver is knocked completely around early in the race and he fights his way back up to a position where he clinches his third world championship. Afterwards Person Ti_Ca and I work on homework and then I have a queit day relaxing around the house.
Monday morning is a struggle to get started at work. I put my head down and actually make some progress thoguh I don't really want to be here. However as the day wears on I find myself more and more productive and have some great thoguhts when three different co-workers (or bosses) ask me for advice on how to solve some problems. When I get home I lift weights and struggle a bit with the weights that I last used on the previous Tuesday. But all of the cycling probably sapped some of my strength.