Tandeming the Days Away

Tom and I have spent the summer riding the tandem all around Anchorage.  I started counting miles seriously after we returned from Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.
From June 16 until August 23 we put in over 600 miles.  We had 35 miles prior to our trip to Mexico.
At the moment we are just under 700 miles and if the weather cooperates I hope to top that and head toward 750.

Laughing at Myself

Earlier today Tom and I went for a ride to the Farmer's Market to pick up fresh veggies.  We filled both of the saddle bags on the tandem to overflowing and I had one sandwich size baggie of snap peas that would not fit.  I put it in the back pocket of my biking jacket which zips on the side and runs across the back.
Tom and I had been snacking on them while we wandered around the market. We stopped to try some wines at the Wine Style booth, which also had some excellent munchies to go along with the wines.  While tasting both we discovered we knew the owners of the catering place, from years ago, back with the boys were ice skating, so stayed to chat for a bit.
I decided I wanted to eat a couple more snap peas before we took off so was trying to get them out of my back pocket, when I felt something.  I thought I was going crazy as I knew that my wallet that I had with me today with my new ID and such was not in that pocket, but I could feel something that felt like my wallet, so I got Tom to check.
I had to take off my jacket and inside the back of the jacket there is a netting that is sewn in two places to divide the pockets, one on either side and the large back pocket.  The netting is loose along the top and caught in it was my wallet that I thought I had lost. 
I checked my jacket at least three times yesterday including turning it upside down and shaking it, but felt nothing. There was my wallet with my DL, military ID, debit card, and my insurance cards.  How I missed it yesterday when I checked the jacket is beyond me, but miss it I did.  The only thing I can think of is the fact that I was so stressed out I did not feel it when I was patting down my jacket. It was caught inside the netting so it did not shake out when I shook the jacket.
I guess the laugh is on me.  Oh well, as I told Tom, at least now the pictures on my IDs look like me. 

Day from the Dark Side

Are you sure this is not Friday the 13th?

I went out for my short ride figuring I would go 5 to 7 miles then come home shower and get ready for lunch with some girl friends. About 3 miles into my ride my phone rings so I stop to answer it.  One friend was calling regarding lunch and did I want to ride with her then go to Riehl Sewing after to use our coupons.  I said sure, I will finish ride, but what time is lunch. She says she will contact friend who is working still and let me know.
I set off to ride more and stop when she texts with time for lunch and time we should head out.  I am debating turning around or going through the park and back home down another street.   I answer text put phone back in pocket and realize my little wallet purse is not there.
I look around on the ground, no wallet.  I jump on bike ride like the wind, and I mean I hauled butt back to where I stopped last time to see if I dropped it there, not there.
So, I ride back to the last stop looking all along the one side of the road, not wallet. I turn around and head back to the first stop checking the other side of the road. No wallet.
I continue back re covering my path, no wallet either way. I recross part of the path I took between phone call and text, head back down the way I started from toward my house, no wallet.
I check the yard and the garage, no wallet. I check in the house, searching my chair, both bathrooms, the kitchen, sewing room, family room, bedroom. I even looked in rooms I had not gone into this morning, dumped my purse, no wallet.
I called and canceled lunch. Then called and canceled my debit card.  The next call was to the bank and to transfer money to a different account that I have a debit card for so I can pay bills, as today I got my retirement pay.  I let them know that no charges should go through on my lost debit card and order a new one, which will take 7 to 10 days.
Next I called the base regarding replacing my military ID and to find out when they are open.  After that I called DMV to see what I need to get a new driver's license.
Once I had all that information I texted Tom and called his classroom, but got no answer.  I need him to get new ID and he was going out after work with friends. The base office closes at 3:30 and I need him. He also biked to school today.
So I called the school secretary and told her what happened and that he must read his text and call me.
I found my passport and birth certificate, drove to the DMV where I had to wait over an hour to get a new DL. It was a zoo, but then it usually is.
While I was there Tom called me, he said he had someone to cover his last class and will be waiting for me to pick him up and to call him when I am on the way.  
With my new DL in hand I drove over to get him and we headed out to the base, which is about 20 minutes from his school.
Once we were there we had to get the form I needed to verify I am not denied base privileges and can get an ID. Then we had to head down the hall to another office to get them to verify it and you must have photo ID for this.
Once I was verified we headed back to first office to wait to be called to get my new militaryID.
Then I drove back to Tom's back to his school to drop DH back at school so he could ride his bike home.
Talk about being stressed out.  I was so stressed I was shaking.  Good thing no one wanted to take my BP today.
It cost me $15 to replace my DL and $5 have a new debit card issued.
There was between $10 and $30 in the wallet, so that is gone, but hey it's only money.
The positive thing is that I got in a good workout.  I rode almost 13 miles. I am ready to call it a day. 

Bicycling the Summer Away

--> This summer between our trip to Puerto Vallarta and the rain we have not gotten in as many miles as I would have liked so far. There are only a few more weeks before my husband returns to work, a classroom full of seventh and eighth graders.  
 I am looking at bikes for myself, including two different Novara’s, which were two girly for me and a Giant Sedona "Comfort Mountain Bike" which just looked to old lady for me, though I did give it a test ride. 
I have test ridden and ruled out a Specialized Cross Trail, as it was not that comfortable.  
I like two other bikes, one is a Giant "Rainier"1 "29" mountain bike and the other an Eva 3.0, though they will need to put on a shorter stem as the bike is a large and the stem is a little to long.   
I am leaning toward the "Rainier" even though it is about double the cost, as it is the most comfortable. 
The "Rainier" is a medium and in black, but I do like the color of the Eva, it is silver with pink pin stripes.  I may have to give both of them another test ride before I decide. 
The tough thing is that they are at two different shops on opposite ends of town, so it is hard to compare them side-by-side.  They are both mountain bikes, and the "Rainier" is double the price, so it is a little more spendy. 
My husband says it has to be a bike I like and am comfortable riding or I will not ride it. I will be making a decision in the next couple weeks, as I want a bike of my own to ride when he returns to work, as the tandem does not work very well with only one rider.

theiving TSA Agents

I was one very angry lady when I realized that when the TSA inspected one suitcase on our way down to Mexico they stole one of my skorts. That is $71.00 that they owe me. I am reallly angry and will not be letting go of this one. Theft is a crime and I demand my money or my skort back. The thing that really ticks me off is that this particular color is no longer made and it matched perfectly with a couple of my tops. I am emailing, calling, and raising cain with TSA and I filed a police report with APD who told me to file with the airport police in Anchorage. We left out of Anchorage, Alaska on the night of May 29th heading to Mexico. When we arrived at our destination I found a lovely little TSA card in one of my suitcases.  This was the first time that TSA had inspected one of my checked suitcases and I pray the last because they stole one of my expensive skorts.  When I arrived at our destination, I pulled out clothes to wear each day and did not realize until a day or two after arrival when I was looking for my purple skort which matches the top I want to wear that my purple skort had been stolen from my suitcase.   I am very upset by this and expect full restitution for the skort. It is not one I can replace as they no longer make that specific color.  The cost of the skort including shipping is $71.00.  I expect immediate restitution for this item. I am extremely disappointed that TSA has a thief working for their company, and suggest that they may want to vet all employees to find the thief.  I was not satisfied with their response to my email.  I also cced my email to the Anchorage Daily News. This is a horrendous wrong that they need to rectify immediately. Theft is not something I take lightly and I will be filling a complaint with the federal government.  Obama better beware because I am working on a letter to him also.  He needs to make sure that the people that work in government are honest, not a bunch of thieves.  It is bad enough they rob us blind with their taxes that are unfair and unevenly distributed, but to steal from our suitcases, which is to literally steal the clothes off our backs is an abomination.

Update:  I checked when we got home and my skort did not get accidentally left at home.  I have also called the airport lost and found and they do not have it.  I am filing a report with the airport police, TSA, and Alaska airlines.  TSA is a joke and a major theft ring that is government sanctioned and needs to be gotten rid of because it is not really doing anything except harassing and stealing from American citizens.

Moose

Tonight Tom almost got run over by a moose.  He was coming home from his walk and there were two young moose following him.  One was walking straight toward him, so he jumped up on a neighbor's porch to get out of his way.

He got some great pictures of the two moose in our neighbor's yard and our yard.  Check these out.

One was on each side of the front door chowing down on the rose bushes.

World War II Veterans

Today I watched a video about a plan that landed on May 23, 2012 at Reagan National Airport. It was an Honor Flight of World War II veterans.  The video showed how people from all over that section of the airport came together to welcome and honor the veterans as they exited the plane.  They cheered and clapped, and shook their hands as they exited the aircraft. A few of them were part of the official welcoming committee, but most were just travelers who were waiting for their own flights. The gate attendant announced that the flight was coming in and encouraged those passing travelers to join in welcoming the veterans. It was a warm and welcoming salute to honor them, not one that was planned months in advance, but one that just happened.  I wish I could have been there to be a part of it.

Link to the story and video 

I did however have the honor of traveling on the Amtrak Coast Starlight train with two WW II veterans. One served in General Patton's  4th Armored Division. The other was a Merchant Marine.  He is 94 and his wife 86. They were married the day after the war ended. That means they have been married 66 years. 

It is not often that one has the chance to meet these heroes as there are fewer every year.  I have had the pleasure of meeting several over the years and have been honored to do so.  If you every get the chance be sure to thank them for their service because if not for them you might be speaking German today and living under the rule of the Third Reich.