10,000 miles and still going strong

After my morning errands, my bike odometer read 10,003 total miles on my bike. I bought the green Sedona Giant in 2001, so that comes to over a thousand miles per year. I would venture to say that ninety percent of those miles are commuting miles, including trips to work, the store, bank, farmer's market, ultimate practice, campus, etc. Sure, I occasionally hop the bike for a workout, but for the most part, it is my mode of transportation around town.




In the past ten thousand miles I have changed the tires once but patched the tubes many times. I am on my third (plush) seat, second front fender, chain, and front gear box. A few years ago I changed the grip shifters to rapid fire out of pure desire. (The bumpy bricks around town would ofter change my gears because my hands would bounce around so much.)

In the fall of 2004 it was stolen on campus even though it was locked up. Four months later I found it on another part of campus. Since I had reported the theft and bought the bike locally (they had the serial number), I could prove it was mine. The cops cut it loose and I was off. (I know, I am very lucky.)

This bike has seen the streets of Bar Harbor, Maine; Ottawa, Ontario; Burlington, VT; Madison, Wisconsin; and Seattle, Washington to name a few of the outpost we stopped at on our trip across the country. On that same cross country adventure, Kent and I rode old rail trails of the Black Hills of South Dakota and the 20 mile loop around Acadia National Park.

My longest ride was about 65 miles with my neighbor Tony, when we rode the Great Miami Bike Trail from Yellow Springs, Ohio to Cincinnati. We spent the night at my brother's house and then rode back the next day. Our reward that day was a visit to Young's Dairy for an ice cream sundae. mmmmmm, ice cream.

I get it serviced about every other year at the same store that I bought the bike, but I should probably do that more. I have a rack and saddle bag to carry groceries, books, or cleats, whatever is on the agenda for the day. Which reminds me, I need to go oil the chain. Later!

Happy Fourth of July to You!

Thanks to everyone who sent out invitations for various July Fourth Frolic opportunities. We were lame and stayed home. However, that meant much done on the house. Yes, we are still doing things on the house. Things like...door knobs! Yes, any guest of ours would know that things could have been a little more private in the Gromen-Butler household, if not for the holes in the doors. But now, yeah, we can shut the doors (and lock them). The reason it took so long is because we hadn't finished the doors yet. And it is one of those things you just don't think about until you have a house guest (with dog) for 2 months. In fact, with just 2 people in the house, I rarely shut the bathroom door.

On to other accomplishments:

Since we had to finish the doors (with Linseed Oil for those who are interested), we went ahead and finished some trim as well. Kent has been slowly but steadily installing trim on the first floor.

I put up blinds in the bedrooms and bathroom. (Again, yeah for privacy) We went with very simple double celled blinds that are supposed to help with keeping the heat in the house in the winter and out in the summer. nothing fancy.

We are still installing light fixtures. Both bathrooms are now done. The downstairs bath was tricking because the ceiling is so low (no picture, sorry). and the upstairs bath was tricky because the hole for the light was off center of the mirror and sink. This meant that Kent had to put a piece of wood behind the fixture to be able to center it. See photo below. So now you know the secret if you stop by for a visit.



The biggest change is my adventure in the kitchen. Last winter, some friends moved out of town and I scored some of this composite wood material that has the white laminate on it. It's the same stuff as my kitchen cabinets. With my new favorite tool, the pocket jig, I made 2 wall cabinets to the left and right of the stove. I also installed a butcher block countertop to the right of the stove. Don't get excited, I didn't make the butcher block, I cheated and bought it at Lowes. I did put the strip of oak on the left side to pretty it up and give it a straight edge. Then screw it in to the cabinets below and presto, instant countertop.



This is the beginnings of shelving unit. I didn't make doors, and decided to just leave it open. but I did add some trim to spruce it up a bit.



Here's the finished product. I added the face plate in the middle to hide the venting for the stove. I was hoping Kent could paint a picture there, or just the words "Buon Appetito". We'll see.




Now things are much more handy in the kitchen. No more bending over to get food or plates out of the lower cabinets. I still want a small pie safe or something like for more storage. But something will come up.

Post from home

I am writing this from my brother's new iPad. It is my first attempt at typing with this type of keypad. The difference I fInd is that you have to keep your fingers above the keypad. There is no resting. That is hard. I suppose it could make your wrists stronger. I suppose we will find out. Also. I have to look at the keypad. I can't lOok at the screen late all.

Kay this paragraph I am only looking ate etch a screen. And we wil, asde how I type, okY not So food.

Me again

House is moving along as Kent continues to put up trim. It's not so exciting, but I did include a picture for you. This is the little cutout we put in as you go up the steps to the second floor. We are going to put art in there or make it a bookshelf.



He also put up some of the lighting we bought at IKEA. Again, another picture because it is oh so interesting.





We had a visit from Doug and Gina and Sammy and Owen AND COLBY and BELLA! They were in town for the day seeing friends. I had to include this picture of Colby. I didn't even recognize him with that haircut. He looks like a handsome young pup now, as opposed to his distinguished look with the long hair. Hard to believe he is seven. It was a great visit, I think Owen is going to start associating our household with naturaly oddities since he saw a praying mantis last time he visited and the "caged birds" this time.



On the school front, I will be graduating this June, so if you know of any jobs available in the athens region let me know!


Other than that things are going well. The garden is coming in (hopefully the berries will not be ravished by the birds) and we are all in good health.


If you are in the neighborhood, stop by for a visit.

The last four months

We brought in a new decade with friends at the new house. Played games, ate good food, and stayed up past midnight.

Started a new term. Kent in his second term of serving on city council, Lori in her third term in grad school.

Winter months found Kent installing trim (a neverending job). Lori co-coordinated OHIO's efforts in the RecycleMania competition. Lori also continued her efforts of increasing food security in Athens by planning a fruit tree planting for this spring.

We heated with wood the entire winter. No other source of heat was used. We were very comfortable. The snowy winter got us out on the sleds and Lori even learned to snowboard with the help of her neighbor, Tony. The small hills of Athens are perfect to learn on.

March came, and so did spring. Garden is started. A lemon tree and tangerine tree were added to the orchard. These will stay indoors in the winter, but will thrive outside in our hot, sunny summers.

Frisbee reunion in Cincy brought friends together once again. Met some new additions which is always nice. Laughed for about 12 hours straight.

This spring we hope to continue work on the house. Siding needs to go up, trim continued, and kitchen finished. Though everything is very livable and we have enjoyed the comfort so far.

Also this spring, Lori hopes to finish school and find a job. Kent hopes to finish the house and play more frisbee.

Joy to all.