We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Last year I had a bit of spare cash burning a hole in my pocket, so instead of a second exotic spousal trip we decided to do a little work on ye olde homestead (it is, indeed, an old farmhouse, 1820) to enjoy as we begin to experience a touch of grey.
Not a large project, but everything is complex in an old rambling firetrap of a place. You have to make some steps. We combined two small bedrooms into one gracious one, and added 14' to the upstairs (while expanding the kitchen workspace downstairs) for a walk-in closet and space to put an upstairs washer and drier.
Not a big deal, really, but why we put off putting that washer and drier upstairs for all of these years seems crazy to me. Sure could have used it when the kids were little. It feels sinfully luxurious but I think I earned it. GE machines, ok but maybe not the best.
The plumbing was a little complex, of course. Plaster walls.
According to the research, Americans read a mean average of 12 books per year, and the typical (median) American has read four books in the past 12 months. And this has largely been the case since 2011, proving that Americans aren't dropping their reading habits.
Related, Rod Rosenstein Rebukes Democrats and Mainstream Media, Calls Democrats accusations against William Barr's handling of Mueller report "Completely Bizarre"
The Moose, a monster animal of the North Woods lowlands and marshes, has been moving south into Massachusetts and Connecticut. They now seem to be breeding in CT.
Why the intensity of hate? I often disagree with others politically, but I never hate them. I didn't even hate Obama or Hillary. I sort-of liked Obama, but few of his views. Hillary? Disliked her, but no hate. What's with all the hate?
... in The Tangled Tree, he explains how molecular studies of evolution have brought startling recognitions about the tangled tree of life—including where we humans fit upon it. Thanks to new technologies such as CRISPR, we now have the ability to alter even our genetic composition—through sideways insertions, as nature has long been doing. The Tangled Tree is a brilliant guide to our transformed understanding of evolution, of life’s history, and of our own human nature.
If she merely wants the thrills, she has them. If she cannot adjust to a long term relationship that might be more sedate and less exciting, she is doing just the right thing.
It took me over three years to be well-enough trained to do more of my daily work on my own - not including my 1-2 hours/week of trainer-led calisthenics/athleticism classes. (If you can give yourself a ballbusting calis class on your own, God bless ya. I know only one person who does, and I admire that person. She's a great ball of energy and good cheer.)
Admittedly, I am a slow learner and was not in great shape when I began this fitness adventure. And I did not know correct deadlift or squat technique. In fact, I did myself some damage in the past out of ignorance.
Why I have needed a trainer, despite the truly burdensome cost:
- To evaluate you and then plan your fitness regimens, advancing as possible - To train you to do your exercises and lifts properly, to avoid injury and to avoid wasting time - To instruct about proper nutrition for your fitness goals - To inspire and push you, through a positive relationship. Even working out with a spouse or buddy can take you to greater heights. Heck, even a pretty gal in the gym can have an effect. Stupid, right?
Eventually you begin to internalize your trainer's voice and direction, as people sometimes do with a therapist. It's like an alter ego. Many of us need that, because many of us do not really know how to push ourselves to the max. Human nature is lazy, mostly, but with plenty of potential.
9th Avenue on Sunday, in the 20s. You could easily walk by on the sidewalk and never notice the age of these buildings. We had brunch at the cafe in that old brick one on the corner. Brioche French toast with sliced bananas and drizzled Nutella. With bacon on the side. Not bad, but regular olde-time French toast is fine with me, with real Maple Syrup.
I will not pretend to be a victim in this country. I know that that makes many people on the left uncomfortable. I want to talk about real issues in black America. I want to talk about real issues in this country, real concerns.
The biggest scandal--this is my last sentence--in American politics is that Democrats have been conning minorities into the belief that we are perpetual victims, all but ensuring our failure. Racial division and class warfare are central to the Democrat Party platform. They need blacks to hate whites, the rich to hate the poor. Soon enough it will be the tall hating the short...
Attorney General William Barr said Tuesday that an inspector general’s investigation into whether the FBI abused the surveillance court process during the Russia probe will be completed by May or June.
It's a crazy subject, fraught with myth. Animals do not need to read articles about when to have a drink of water, but seemingly humans do.
Where I live most of the time, females go around with a plastic bottle of water. In the car, in the gym, on the tennis court, at the supermarket, as if living in the Sahara. There are hardly enough public bathrooms for them all.
A few points:
Coffee is not dehydrating. Beer is hydrating. When you work out hard, especially in the heat, a little water is good. There seem to be extremes: people who are insensitive to their thirst, and people who drink too much. If confused about one's needs for liquid, the frequency of peeing, and the concentration of one's pee, are good indicators.
I have had outdoor adventures when my fatigue was entirely due to a touch of dehydration, when I perked up like a wilted plant with a bottle of water.
Free weights are always better because they engage so many accessory muscles, core, and balance. BUT...
But machine resistance is better than no resistance work, and machine work can help improve your free weight efforts. A prime example is pullups. Lots of people can't do even one. Sad. It indicates that your back muscles are underdeveloped, or you are overweight, or both. BUT if you work on machine pull-downs and machine (assisted) pullups, you can advance get to real pullups. Lat Pulldown vs Pull-ups: Research Reveals Which Is Best
Again, I do sets of each, weekly. Weakly too. I entirely understand doing barbell squats with a Smith Machine. You don't need a spotter. Still, I'd rather do squats with a spotter anyway, and my leg presses on my own.
The moral of this fitness post is that free weights are better, but anything is better than nothing as long as it is difficult to do. "Difficult" means reaching deep down to what you do not want to do because it is "too hard." That's a bad approach to life.
May 5th is the date for the Urban Hike. Upper Manhattan is the route. We have some interesting stops. Starting at Lincoln Center, then working our way up, we will take a gander at 5 of the remaining Carnegie Libraries in Manhattan. There is the Collyer Brothers Park, where the infamous pair lived (the house torn down). High Bridge, Morris-Jumel Mansion, Sylvan Terrace, the Little Red Lighthouse.
Right now the trip is 11 miles. My plan is to hike it a week or two prior, plot out some resting locations and eateries, and then make adjustments. 11 miles is long. Shorter than last year's, but still very long. 9am start time - but beware. May 5th is the Five Boro Bike Tour. We shouldn't have any issues with this. The tour is more or less out of the Central Park area by about 11am, and it's all on the east side. By the time we reach the Collyer Brothers Park, most of the bikes will be past. However, beware of getting to the city early! The Five Boro Tour usually can add 30-45 minutes of entry time into Manhattan if you're coming from the north or east of the city. Plan ahead and keep your radio tuned to traffic reports as you try to get to Lincoln Center.
Open to suggestions, changes, commentary - feel free to share any thoughts you may have. If you plan on attending and would like to see something in particular, let me know and I'll add it. The lucky ones who survive can all hop on the subway and we'll head down to Grand Central for a post-hike cocktail at Campbell Apartment.
Small towns, 
It took me over three years to be well-enough trained to do more of my daily work on my own - not including my 1-2 hours/week of trainer-led calisthenics/athleticism classes. (If you can give yourself a ballbusting calis class on your own, God bless ya. I know only one person who does, and I admire that person. She's a great ball of energy and good cheer.) 
Photo: Crowds of tourists at Hudson Yards on Sunday