Since there are some people out there that are thinking today is the last day of Earth, then this would be my last blog post. I’m not going with it and I think that most Mayan’s aren’t thinking that way either.

It is the winter solstice today, so winter is officially here. I shoveled snow for the first time of the year yesterday, so I guess that was appropriate. I think my lower back forgot how heavy these early snows can be.

I hope it isn’t the last day of the Earth because if it is, that means that I rode an ergometer inside the last time I did anything that resembled riding a bicycle. I hate riding inside, so that is a depressing thought. That being said, I did do alright on the ergometer. Normally, the time ticks by super slowly when I’m riding inside. After 15 minutes it seems like an hour. Yesterday, I rented the new movie Total Recall, and then got on the ergometer. I rode around 280 watts for exactly an hour and it went by pretty quickly. I hate sweating that much. My ears clog up with water if I ride much more.

I got a late call from Brian and had to head over to Lawrence, once again, for some team photos. It was pretty quick, but we stayed and ate dinner afterward.

I spend some of the afternoon doing some drywall work at Adam’s. We’re gonna start laying tile this morning. It might take a little longer than normal because we’re heating the floor and it makes it a little tricky to get the thinset uniform height when you trowel over the electric mat. But, it’s not all that big of a bathroom and the shower should go pretty quickly.

The roads were crazy slick yesterday. Solid ice early and then again after the sun set. Lots and lots of fender benders. Guess that is what happens with the first snow storm of the season. It was very slippy (British fro slippery) though.

I’m going to try to get out and ride outside today if we get done early enough. It is supposed to be nearly 40, so the roads will probably clear by mid afternoon. Especially the ones outside of town that were plowed good yesterday. If not, I guess I can ride once more inside. Or maybe it will all be over sometime today and I’m done with riding. It’s all good no matter what happens.

After the team photos, we messed around on the climbing wall some. I just wanted to see if my should would fall off or not.

Adam covered the shower area with this sealing stuff. This thing is never, ever going to leak.

Yesterday, Bill, Adam and I tiled most of the afternoon. I first sanded drywall, which is maybe the most thankless job in the world. Okay, maybe it’s not thankless, but it is horrible. You couldn’t pay me enough money to do that on a full time basis. I couldn’t find a mask, so I just filled my throat and sinuses with fine particles of drywall compound for close to an hour. I’ve done it before for much, much longer, so it isn’t that bad.

It is almost like cross training, especially sanding over you head and in weird positions. I kind of like it in that respect, but not in any others.

Tiling, on the other hand, if pretty rewarding. It’s kind of like shoveling snow or roofing. You get to see your progression as you work. It went pretty well on the whole. It is a little weird laying mosiac tile over electric radiant floor heating wires, but not that big of a deal. I’m heading back over there to grout this morning, then maybe start the wall tile after the ride in the evening.

It is supposed to be close to 45 today for a high, so there is a group ride meeting at my house at 12:30. I’d be surprised if we got in more than 50 miles. My general winter rule is one mile for every degree temperature it is. It obviously depends on lots of other things, like wind, dampness, group size, etc.

Sunday we’re heading up to Chicago to Trudi’s mom’s house for Christmas. I’m not even sure if there is snow on the ground there. I’m taking my cross bike to ride. We’re only going to be up there for a few days, so it will be fine. I’m playing it by ear, but if it is going to be cold and wet here in Kansas when we get back, I’m heading down to Texas for an week. If not, then I’ll stay home and ride.

This self portrait was after I’d cleaned up mostly.

The shower floor went pretty quick.

The radiant floor mat fit pretty perfectly.

It was making me dizzy trying to align all the tiles. It was pretty important not pushing them too deep for a “home run”.

Turned out pretty good, not perfect, but good.