Thanks Casey Family Services management team for a wonderful parting gift!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Will be posting from Vietnam
I will be posting while on my trip. After talking with my cô giáo in Vietnam about safety in the hotel I've decided to bring my Asus Eee Pad Transformer along so I'll be able to post while traveling.
Thanks Casey Family Services management team for a wonderful parting gift!
Thanks Casey Family Services management team for a wonderful parting gift!
Who's afraid of Vietnam?
A few more days and I'm on my way to Vietnam.
As I think about stepping off the plane in Ho Chi Minh, still have a hard time writing that instead of Sai Gon, I worry customs will look in my bag and decide to send me home on the next plane.
Why? Because I've gotten everything recommended on the medical travel guide that was given to me when I got my Hepatitis and Typhoid vaccinations for the trip. I feel like I'm carrying a pharmacy along with me. Plus while shopping for all this stuff I saw three other things that seemed to me like good additions. Temporary filling/cap replacement, Gold Bond powder (a life saver on recent New Mexico trip) and Anbesol (generic).
I imagine the Vietnamese border agent looking at the contents of my bag and thinking "this guy is afraid to be here, what an insult" or "this guy must be sick" and deciding the best thing to do is kick me out of the country.
That won't happen I'm sure but the mind can come up with some pretty strange thoughts.
Below is a picture of medical supplies I'm bringing. Am I forgetting anything?
I've got....
As I think about stepping off the plane in Ho Chi Minh, still have a hard time writing that instead of Sai Gon, I worry customs will look in my bag and decide to send me home on the next plane.
Why? Because I've gotten everything recommended on the medical travel guide that was given to me when I got my Hepatitis and Typhoid vaccinations for the trip. I feel like I'm carrying a pharmacy along with me. Plus while shopping for all this stuff I saw three other things that seemed to me like good additions. Temporary filling/cap replacement, Gold Bond powder (a life saver on recent New Mexico trip) and Anbesol (generic).
I imagine the Vietnamese border agent looking at the contents of my bag and thinking "this guy is afraid to be here, what an insult" or "this guy must be sick" and deciding the best thing to do is kick me out of the country.
That won't happen I'm sure but the mind can come up with some pretty strange thoughts.
Below is a picture of medical supplies I'm bringing. Am I forgetting anything?
I've got....- hand sanitizer
- Betadine solution
- gauze pads
- cloth tape
- bandaids
- water conditioning tablets
- insect repellent, 35% DEET recommended, looked forever and finally found 34.34%, it'll have to do
- OTC antacid
- OTC antifungal cream (jock itch cream was clearly labeled antifungal so picked that)
- OTC anti-itch cream
- OTC antibiotic ointment
- OTC laxative
- OTC anti-diarrheal (can almost imagine using this and the previous, one after the other, and having regularity swing out of control)
- Ciprofloxacin a prescription anti-diarrheal, doctor's description - "Only to be used for travelers diarrhea, it's like nothing you've ever had before so you'll know if you need it!" (great confidence builder that instruction)
- Tamiflu - prescription flu medication
- Ambesol gel generic
- lost filling and loose cap repair kit
- Gold Bond powder
Friday, September 2, 2011
My newest, biggest adventure is about to begin. GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!
This should be a trip, in more ways then one.
Been quite a difficult year capping off the accident that got this blog started 4 years ago. Got divorced, lost my job...
There've been upsides too. My stress level has gone WAY down. Me and my boys went on a great vacation RVing around New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns is absolutely worth visiting! Roswell is a goof, almost everything IS alien themed. The museum and art center in the downtown has an excellent exhibit about America's rocketry pioneer, Robert H. Goddard. A big exhibit room with lots of machinery from his shop, various pieces of the rockets he built and about half an hour worth of videos covering his career and life. It's nearly impossible to find anything about the Goddard exhibit on the museum/art center web site and what's there doesn't do the exhibit justice. Real shame. Another stop was Santa Rosa. The Blue Hole there is definitely worth stopping in for a dip.
Now my biggest adventure begins. About two weeks in Vietnam. Literally half way round the world. A bit nervous about getting there and coming back. Have to sit in a small seat for 20 hours each way. I expect that will be uncomfortable. Traveling to and from the airport just adds to the journey. I'll be on the ground a total of 11 days and have about a day and a quarter travel on each end.
Bringing two long books to try and keep my head occupied on the flights so I'm not feeling too stuck in the tiny seat. Also bring two Vietnamese phrase books and some language CDs on my MP3 player. Still up in the air about bringing any electronics beyond a digital camera and the MP3 player.
Got a SWEET hotel booked. A/C, private bath and JACUZZI, morning brunch included for $32/day!!! Went on TripAdvisor to find a hotel. Came up with three options and sent the list to my cô giáo (teacher) for comment. She suggested a fourth she believes is better. After looking at the details went for the one cô giáo recommended. Better room, jacuzzi and breakfast and still less per day than two of the hotels I found. It's always helpful to have someone local looking out for you.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Not banging on all cylinders
Not banging on all gears yet with maintenance.
Thought I figured out the problem on the blue bike. Chain seemed to just slide around the middle chain ring when pedal pressure was applied. The teeth on the ring looked very rounded and had a wide valley between them.
Replaced it with an old 42 tooth ring. Not SIS but excellent teeth. Rode in the yard without slipage. Went out on the road and things were fine. After a while, 5 miles, the back began to skip.
Stopped and started a few times to make rear derailleur adjustments for the skip. Help some but the longer I rode the more gears the rear skip developed across.
Went back to the house to see if the problem can be fixed w/o getting new rear gears.
BTW, new front derailleur works well. Need to see if it still works after being raised a mm or 3. When it's on outer ring the inner plate rubs on top of the middle ring's teeth.
Don't want to ignore the rub because I think the teeth are softer than the inner plate. Raising derailleur would eliminate the rub. Then need to find out if shifting is still accurate.
Height is propper clearance for outer plate to outer ring teeth gap. Raising it will raise it out of "gage" height. Need to see if it still shifts as sweet as it does now after being raised. If it still is 'on' will definitely keep it.
Thought I figured out the problem on the blue bike. Chain seemed to just slide around the middle chain ring when pedal pressure was applied. The teeth on the ring looked very rounded and had a wide valley between them.
Replaced it with an old 42 tooth ring. Not SIS but excellent teeth. Rode in the yard without slipage. Went out on the road and things were fine. After a while, 5 miles, the back began to skip.
Stopped and started a few times to make rear derailleur adjustments for the skip. Help some but the longer I rode the more gears the rear skip developed across.
Went back to the house to see if the problem can be fixed w/o getting new rear gears.
BTW, new front derailleur works well. Need to see if it still works after being raised a mm or 3. When it's on outer ring the inner plate rubs on top of the middle ring's teeth.
Don't want to ignore the rub because I think the teeth are softer than the inner plate. Raising derailleur would eliminate the rub. Then need to find out if shifting is still accurate.
Height is propper clearance for outer plate to outer ring teeth gap. Raising it will raise it out of "gage" height. Need to see if it still shifts as sweet as it does now after being raised. If it still is 'on' will definitely keep it.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Been a while since posting...
It's been a long time since my last posts. The muse was kicked off about 2 years ago by an almost fatal bicycle accident.
I've been riding as much as I can since. Achieving 75% of pre crash mileage two years later is doing well.
During the recovery I've been riding more with other people than I did in the past. Plus I've ridden in more organized rides, mostly charity.
This is a short clip from a recent ride with a friend.
New England in late summer is a really nice place to ride.
I've been riding as much as I can since. Achieving 75% of pre crash mileage two years later is doing well.
During the recovery I've been riding more with other people than I did in the past. Plus I've ridden in more organized rides, mostly charity.
This is a short clip from a recent ride with a friend.
New England in late summer is a really nice place to ride.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Really Riding Again
Well I got out on the road two of three days on this Martin Luther King holiday.
Felt good to get some real riding in. And doing so in the beautiful cold clear January air made it all the more enjoyable. My last two rides, that's all its been since crashing in July, totaled barely fifteen miles. And I was concerned about not exceeding my abilities or getting to far from home.
The two rides this weekend I went with excitement looking forward to again cruising the road with some comfort and confidence. That's pretty much how it worked out. Did exactly the same ride both days, a 20 miler that turns around right before it becomes my 30 mile ride. Felt good and comfortable on the bike both days. Even though it was cold, 26° both days, I was comfortable. Wasn't too bundled so could move easily and wasn't restricted and had layers enough to keep everything warm and comfortable without being sweaty.
The second day it did feel colder that the first day, despite the thermometer saying it was the same both days. I did a 40 minute spin on the fluid trainer each day before going out on the road. Just worked out that way. Sunday I wanted to make sure I exercised and knew it was a sure thing if I spun on the fluid trainer. Figured a ride was less certain because of the temperature. Then ended up doing both much to my delight.
Don't remember how Monday evolved into exercise on the trainer and on the road. Just happy it did though.
Felt good to get some real riding in. And doing so in the beautiful cold clear January air made it all the more enjoyable. My last two rides, that's all its been since crashing in July, totaled barely fifteen miles. And I was concerned about not exceeding my abilities or getting to far from home.
The two rides this weekend I went with excitement looking forward to again cruising the road with some comfort and confidence. That's pretty much how it worked out. Did exactly the same ride both days, a 20 miler that turns around right before it becomes my 30 mile ride. Felt good and comfortable on the bike both days. Even though it was cold, 26° both days, I was comfortable. Wasn't too bundled so could move easily and wasn't restricted and had layers enough to keep everything warm and comfortable without being sweaty.
The second day it did feel colder that the first day, despite the thermometer saying it was the same both days. I did a 40 minute spin on the fluid trainer each day before going out on the road. Just worked out that way. Sunday I wanted to make sure I exercised and knew it was a sure thing if I spun on the fluid trainer. Figured a ride was less certain because of the temperature. Then ended up doing both much to my delight.
Don't remember how Monday evolved into exercise on the trainer and on the road. Just happy it did though.
Friday, January 4, 2008
And the new year's here...
Well it's been a long time (anyone have deja vu now?) since posting.
I've been hoping to have more riding stories. Nothing much to say. One ride in November, just over 5 miles, and one ride in December, just over 9½ miles, and I think 2007 closed with 1,011 miles in the bag.
Being very cautious about road conditions so I'm not storming back out on the road. It has taken me a while to get with the idea of riding the fluid trainer in the basement.
Finally had a three day stint where I focused on the feel of training and not the time slowly creeping by in the basement. Put in good efforts all three times. Each evening's training varied the resistance and speed. Even got up on the 3rd level on the fluid resistance. And I'm sure this is the first 3-day "riding" interval in ages.
At first I figured I'd ride the trainer for guilt because of the money spent on the trainer, then for pride to get back into some kind of shape, finally I realized if I'm going to do it regularly it's because that's the way I want to treat myself. This entry may be marked with the date I first created it. I haven't posted it until several days later. At this point I'm treating myself well and have time on the trainer for each day of the new year!
I've been hoping to have more riding stories. Nothing much to say. One ride in November, just over 5 miles, and one ride in December, just over 9½ miles, and I think 2007 closed with 1,011 miles in the bag.
Being very cautious about road conditions so I'm not storming back out on the road. It has taken me a while to get with the idea of riding the fluid trainer in the basement.
Finally had a three day stint where I focused on the feel of training and not the time slowly creeping by in the basement. Put in good efforts all three times. Each evening's training varied the resistance and speed. Even got up on the 3rd level on the fluid resistance. And I'm sure this is the first 3-day "riding" interval in ages.
At first I figured I'd ride the trainer for guilt because of the money spent on the trainer, then for pride to get back into some kind of shape, finally I realized if I'm going to do it regularly it's because that's the way I want to treat myself. This entry may be marked with the date I first created it. I haven't posted it until several days later. At this point I'm treating myself well and have time on the trainer for each day of the new year!
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