The Year of Flats

There are many things to recommend commuting by bicycle. One irritating thing, though, that has plagued me to an unusual extent this year is getting a flat tire, and having to change it, on the road. Like yesterday morning about half way through my 45 mile ride. And this on a brand new tube I installed the previous night (to replace a tube with a slow leak).

I can go months and months without a flat, and then have three in one week. I haven't kept track but I may have had as many as 15 flats this year. And they usually come in bunches.

The most common cause is picking up glass or some other sharp object (like a staple) that punctures through the tire into the tube. While a bike lane on a busy road is a godsend, one downside is that debris migrates to the edge of the road into the bike lane, and bikes don't have enough mass to sweep the debris further off the road. I hate it when I find myself riding through small specs of shattered glass, either from a car accident or carelessly tossed liquor bottle.

I had another rash of flats due to defective tubes near the valve stem. That was sure discouraging, with multiple flats in one week. Another time I had a couple of flats due to the rim strip not covering the spoke hole edge completely.

On one group ride I had two flats on the road and had to borrow another spare tube. Turns out I didn't find the source of the first flat so it punctured again (small piece of glass). In a pinch I could try to patch a tube on the road, but that is a pain. I carry a spare tube, tire irons, and a pump to get back on my way. Then I try to patch the tube when I get home to salvage the tube for further use.


Here is a nicely repaired tube.


May the fates keep yours and my bike tires fully inflated day after day!

Bye bye 335xi

In 2007 I purchased a BMW 335xi for European Delivery in Munich. The discount was fabulous, and the opportunity to drive it in Germany was uber fun. Here I am picking it up at the delivery center in Munich:


Three years and 23,000 miles later the lease ended and here it is being turned in.

This was the funnest and most competent car I have ever had. If I hadn't purchased a new BMW (see future post) I would have bought this one at lease end.

So now our garage went from this:


To this:

Welcome to the 2004 Toyota Corolla, previously owned by Blair and Bridget. This is one practical and economical car.

I know it is a guy thing to take pictures of and write poems about your cars (in addition to your kids), but here goes:

It's time for goodbye

to my 335xi.

After three years of fun

sorry to drop you and run.

Fall Colors

I love the colors at this time of year. Here is a Nov. 2 view outside Intel in Hillsboro where I work. On a sunny day the colors can really pop. I'm sure my cell phone camera looking through a window doesn't do it full justice.

And just outside my window.


Here are photos I took Nov. 11, 2006, around the neighborhood. The colors and variety can be striking.

A Manly Lunch

For several decades, beginning in grade school, I have been a sack lunch person. I like the flexibility and economy of it. I can eat my lunch all at once, or spread it out. And whenever I want. At my desk or in my lab. Or on an errand. If I'm heads down and swamped with a task I don't have to take timeout to go to lunch. And I'm sure over the years I've saved thousands of dollars vs. buying lunch.

For the great majority of that time the anchor of the sack lunch menu has been peanut butter and jelly on wheat bread. For a while it was home made wheat bread. Now it is Oroweat outlet store wheat bread (sometimes less than a dollar a loaf). These days I add yogurt and an apple. And perhaps grapes, or carrots. Or some random leftover. I keep a large bag of vegetable chips at work to munch on. I used to keep a large tub of outlet store potato salad in the frig at work, but Suzanne convinced me that wasn't healthy.

Here is my lunch being assembled in the morning.



I used to eat Tillamook yogurt--yummm! But Suzanne convinced me this "Light and Fit" yogurt was healthier. I'm sure she is right, but does it have to come with a pink label, and advertise the fight against breast cancer? Not my idea of a manly lunch item.



In the past I reused the actual brown bag for my lunch day after day. It would get pretty worn, and I wondered what people would think of a professional going to work carrying such a bag. Today I stuff it in my waist pack for convenience with my bicycle commute to work.



I confess, I also keep a bag of trail mix (my favorite Costco/Kirkland brand) and, these days, a sack of Snickers in my drawer at work to munch on late afternoon.

Coupons

For over a year now I have had this obsession with buying Wheat Chex on sale, and applying a coupon for additional cash back. I really scored big last year, as you see in this post:
http://acraigwalker.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-frugality.html

I had a few $3 coupons remaining from last year that expired in October, so as my stash of Wheat Chex dwindled I was constantly on the lookout for a sale (especially at Winco), but it never happened. Finally, last week, I saw Chex on sale, but only other flavors, not Wheat Chex. Since my coupons were expiring I just used them to buy Corn Chex (for 98 cents net), which I like, but which don't quite have the mass to hold off my morning hunger until lunchtime.


However, there was a bonus attached. New coupons!

These aren't as lucrative as the previous $3 coupons, but they will prolong the hunt up to another year while I await a Wheat Chex sale.

Trick or Treat

I have many fond memories of past Halloweens, and of accompanying my children on their trick or treat rounds through the neighborhood. I recall a variety of weather conditions, from windy, to wet, to cold. This year was nearly perfect weather--dry, calm, and warm. At least one Halloween, we were joined by the Juhasz family visiting from Idaho.

I miss my small children at Halloween. And each year I am sad that we have fewer and fewer children come to the door to trick or treat. One reason is due to our neighborhood maturing. Last year I believe we had fewer than 10 total. This year I think we bumped up a bit, to perhaps 20 (maybe due to good weather). On the plus side, I buy lots of Snickers and then have leftovers to snack on myself for weeks afterwards.

But, we now have grandchildren to enjoy! Here is a photo of the Walkers at a trunk or treat activity. Emily is so creative with costumes.

I wanted to extract my tax on the goodies, but the parents took priority.

I have worn my trusty Arab clothing as my costume for several years now. It is a sad commentary on American-Arab relationships that many people think I'm dressed as a terrorist.

So, another Halloween is in the books. And I'll continue to enjoy my Snickers!

November "First" Post

I'm committed to posting a blog entry each day in the month of November, like last year (and like several other family members). I recommend it if any of you want to get onboard.

It seems like November 1st is a turning point in the weather and seasons in NW Oregon. In October you still get Indian Summer, with a number of nice warm and sunny days. By November you are pretty much committed to late Autumn weather and the onset of the Pacific NW winter. There will still be some nice sunny days sprinkled throughout the coming months, but overcast and damp is the norm.

We do have some brilliant colors this time of year, though. Here is a shot outside my window at work from the other day.

For comparison, see similar shots in a post from last year.
http://acraigwalker.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-difference-month-makes.html

Saturday morning, Suzanne and I went for a scenic drive near our home. Here are some pictures.

And here is looking outside our window Sunday morning.

I do like this time of year, in spite of the deteriorating weather and onset of darkness. I like the subdued atmosphere, and even the dampness and fog to an extent.