Life is good.....considering....

The new Blogger format is challenging and it will take awhile to figure out it's quirks.   One of which is that I can't put the pics where I want them....so I will have to narrate around that annoyance.  

We've been biking more.    Jeff and Jon introduced me to the Strava app.   It allows me to keep track of my mileage and to share it with others.     It's also a good motivator to get moving, biking, hiking, walking, swimming, Jeeping so you can show others that you are not just sitting on the couch eating Cheetos.   ( I love the crunchy Cheetos but alas, haven't had one in forever)    And we can give each other kudos and comments.   I also share with a couple of friends.   

This was today's ride on the Montrose bike path and around the neighborhood.    

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The Bike path is a real gem for Montrose. .   It's been newly upgraded and lengthened and is busy with walkers, joggers, strollers, bikers of all ages.   It follows the Uncompaghre River and there has been a big investment to make a portion of it a safe recreational area for kayakers and water enthusiasts with added picnic areas and playgrounds. 

 Just finished reading "Sparrow".   Interesting premise of 4 Jesuit priests who take a 17 year journey to another solar system.  It is a good sci fi read but also a compelling examination of faith.   I'm taking a break before I continue with the sequel.     Thx, Jan.   

I just started "Migrations" , a highly anticipated novel (according to reviews) about a woman chasing the arctic tern before it is extinct.   So far, she's in Greenland in the winter and I get cold just reading it.  

I finished the 2nd book in a trilogy by Hilary Mantel,  "Wolf Hall' the first, then "Bring Up the Bodies" and the 3rd just came out, "The Mirror and the Light".    All based on Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell.   Historical novels are a favorite, especially British.     I just read that Ken Follett has a prequel to "Pillars of the Earth".    I read that many years ago and all I remember is they kept trying to build  those cathedrals and then some marauders would burn down their efforts and they'd start again.    

The expression, "so many books, so little time"... is beginning to be my mantra.   My list keeps growing.

I need to keep reading because I certainly am not a gardener.   My roses are non existent.    I feed them, I prune them correctly, the sprinklers work and yet, they seem stunted with withered blooms or none at all.   I assume something is eating them or infecting them.   I use a recommended feed that is supposed to take care of all those issues.    I'm tempted to prune them down to the ground and let them have a rest until next year.   I have 10 bushes and each year they flourish without a problem.  Frustrating....

In order to improve my golf game.... ( the amount of money you put into golf is not reflected in a better score)....I got a new driver.    Well, it's not new new but just used enough to drop the price by half.   The Pro Shop always has the latest and greatest to demo and I've been trying the Callaway Maverick.   I definitely get longer and straighter drives but I wasn't willing to pay $$$.   I learned in my research that the Maverick is the same as last years Epic and I could get it at a used price much cheaper from Callaway Pre-owned .....   I'm very happy with it.     Now if I could putt.   

Lots of building going on around here.    Our Club ordered name tags for us since there are a lot of new people and .......masks😷 !      I made a couple more today.   I'm always trying a new pattern or a different layering or something.      We are mandated to wear them in Colorado...finally.     Some of the bikers on the path today were wearing them.    I don't feel I need to when I'm outside and distanced but I always have one with me.  

For over 6 months, I have doubled down on healthy eating.    For about 6 years, we have been meat and dairy free, eating a plant based diet.     Laziness had brought in some processed foods and that nagging person  in my head was not happy with that.    So, I got serious and reset my intentions and surprisingly, the pounds fell off.    I am back in a healthy groove and now have a new ( old ) wardrobe.     I haven't worn some of these clothes for about 10 years and my closet is getting a good re-organization.   Of course, now I have no place to go to wear any of them and I had to buy more comfortable leggings and T-shirts to match my current stay-at-home lifestyle.  But someday,..........

Time to get on the bike and ride............