12.23 Studios

(10/02/24)

Ok, my 'birthday week' kicks off during a sweltering heat wave in the city...
I decided to go a few blocks west of Van Ness and up a steep incline to Lafayette Park. Not counting the buildings, this must be the highest natural peak of Nob Hill...

Here's a view above the city and across the Bay to Marin County...

Even this high up, there's no breeze. I'd like to see this view with some fog...

My 68th birthday pic, and no, I don't feel it. I'm very lucky...

(10/03/24)

The Bay Area is still under a heat advisory, but the worst of the heat wave may have passed in the city...
Meanwhile, the second day bag arrived...
It doesn't look as large IRL; the banana case takes up more like 55-60% of the space...

A sample load of snacks and misc. for a day ride, minus bananas...

It all fits comfortably...

A few hours later I was looking at the bike's rear rack, imagining how to tie down the road bag and what length of bungee cord to use, and how long it would take to stop, undo and redo the bag...
Then I remembered the handlebar harness that would be empty on a day ride...
So, I hooked the bag's straps around and under the extension bar - cool...

A little ball bungee cord holds the straps in place, making the snacks immediately available for very quick (3-4 minute) pit stops...
If I did want to bring a camp chair, it can go on the rear rack. Nice...

(10/07/24)

I was looking out for my mail-in ballot all last week. It arrived last Friday...

I spent time on Saturday going over all the different state and county propositions (25 of them), comparing what the flood of campaign mailers said about them vs what more neutral news analysis websites said, then on Sunday I made my selections along with the top shelf and down ticket candidate picks...

I actually feel hopeful now that it's done and ready to go...

The Election Center at City Hall and the drop boxes start taking ballots today, so I went out in the continuing desert heat to vote...
Instead of dropping the ballot into the external drop box outside City Hall, I walked inside, confirmed with a poll worker that it was properly signed and sealed, and officially cast my vote...
I'll give it a few days, then check the voters info website to confirm receipt...

(10/12/24)

Yesterday I checked the city Election Center and confirmed that my ballot was received, processed, and ready to be counted on Nov. 5th. Excellent...
I also got the final official document of my change of address - my new ID card...
The Bay Area heat wave finally broke a few days ago, but it's barely worth mentioning with the much more serious weather events impacting the other end of the country...

(10/17/24)

My next doctor appt. comes right before Halloween - my nutritionist. I get to tell her about the plan I discussed with my Rx doctor. A big part of it is increasing my time on the bike and improving my meal choices via the mini fridge, but it also helps that I upgraded my kitchen appliances...

I replaced the old worn out 16" skillet with a new 11" model...

Instead of getting a fancy one cup coffee maker, I went with a rapid boil kettle that also makes it easier to try out 'just add hot water' meals. To increase my fiber intake, I replaced the old rice cooker for one with a steamer basket, cause it's better than boiling or frying veggies so often. I'm still not getting a microwave because it's just too tempting to buy highly processed and oh so convenient junk food items...

(10/30/24)

Ok, I had the meeting with my Nutrition Doctor, went over my updated food plan that she mostly agrees with, but to get my A1c under 7.5 I have to drop another 10 - 15lbs by Spring, eat more salad, add fruit, cut my carbs to a max of 50g per meal and spend more time on the bike...

An additional activity she prescribed is a short walk after dinner, whether or not I do any riding that day...
So, last night and tonight I took a 10-block stroll around the neighborhood after dinner, a leisurely 20 minutes up, down and up the paved hills...
Next month I'll spend an intense week checking my blood levels after each meal, and I promised to only indulge my sweet tooth on the actual holidays of Thanksgiving and Xmas...

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