the dog days of winter?

Dearest Blog Reader.

I hope that this finds you doing well. I am doing fine. Here on the eve of MLK day, I am being warned that the weather is going to be its coldest in two years. Fearsome. Bev and I also had to keep our wits about ourselves today. We were doing some post church grocery shopping and the bagger asked us if we were ready for the big snow storm. He was quite proud in his role as the weather watcher. I hope that my sarcasm wasn’t too biting, but with 6 inch blizzards in recent weeks, winter storm warnings do not concern me; neither do temperatures in the single digits. I also confused the manager by congratulating him on his ploy to sell more eggs, bread and milk. I would have explained but what is the use. You either get Hoosier weather clichés or you don’t. Is it okay to use the word Hoosier and cliché in the same sentence?

It seems most appropriate on this the coldest day in two years to start talking about spring. Hope in the most hopeless of times. Last week you will remember that I had instructed my barber to give me the spring hair cut.  This week I scheduled a bike fitting for an old second hand bike that I bought to replace my current steed. I figure 10 year old technology is more affordable and at a higher level than I can afford new. So, I bought a new bike to me and am going to have it adjusted to fit my 50 year old physique. Mind you this was ridden by a twenty something. It appears that they could bend over much further at the waist and not have their stomach cut off the oxygen flow to their lungs. Yes accommodations must be made. Think of it as relaxed fit bicycling. I still wear a 38 inch waist but it “relaxed” just like my six pack.

All of this will be in preparation for my big spring excursion. I plan to, hope to, and anticipate to ride in Cover Indiana. It is a 360 mile bike ride over 7 days from May 5 through May 11. We will be making our way from Lafayette, through Crawfordsville, Terre Haute, Linton, Bedford, Ellettsville, Plainfield and finally Indianapolis. I am so excited. I hope to identify a variety of assassin deer gangs; find their weaknesses, discuss the possibilities of new counter measures with other riders. I will  bring what I learn back and implement it just northeast of Indianapolis. Be prepared assassin deer. You won’t know what hit you come mid May. I love the collegial conferences.

I had planned to do this last year, but my job had a vacation black out from April 10 through May 10^th. I promised the bosses that we would work harder this year and so they agreed to end the blackout May 4^th. Just in time. So I will be spending all of my free time gaining stamina and butt calluses to be able to endure 60 miles a day. Actually, I am pretty sure that I can endure the 60 miles. It is the 60 miles on the second day and beyond that has me worried. Who knows? It maybe easier than you would expect.

But wait there’s more. In order to participate in the entire week even participants have to raise $350 in support. The money goes to Habitat for Humanity. I decided to give it to the Lafayette branch if it matters. So here I am, hat in hand, asking that you open your wallets and purses for a worthy cause. You can do that at https://sna.etapestry.com/fundraiser/HabitatforHumanityLafayette_1/cover2013/aboutEvent.do . Any amount is appreciated.

But wait there’s more. That’s right. You have the opportunity to open your generosity to even greater heights. I am looking for generous donors to sponsor one of the legs of the trip. For a $60 sponsorship, I will name a leg of the tour after you. Wouldn’t it be great to have the Max Young leg of the Cover Indiana tour named prominently in the You Said What? Roger blog. That is correct if you sponsor a leg that day’s blog will be about any topic you like. You let me know what topic you would like the blog to be about and I will spend the next 60 miles contemplating, mulling and ruminating about your topic and the expound upon it weaving in that day’s events all in your name. You will be famous. People will know what a profound thinker you are by the topic you chose to be ruminated upon for 60 miles. Remember my blog has international coverage. All of that for just $60.

But wait there’s more. That’s right. I have given money to worthy causes of friends and family. They go off on their excursion and I feel no connection to the actual event. Not so with this event. For your sponsorship, you get the opportunity to bring a gallon of ice-cream of your choice and a few spoons and we will fellowship on a beautiful spring evening in a beautiful Indiana destination. That’s right. I will not be some prima donna “Lance Armstrong” and insist on Rocky Road, or cookies and cream. I will gladly share in whatever ice cream you want to bring; be it vanilla, strawberry or even Mocha. Not a fan of Mocha but it is your day and your sponsorship. I will eat it gladly. I only ask that you bring the container and spoons. No bowls. Ice-cream at the end of a 60 mile ride and among friends should be shared in the most intimate mode available.

So there you have it. I know there is more. But let's keep it simple. You donate. I bike and write. Truly, any amount you donate is appreciated. I would love to share each evening with all of you. If we have multiple sponsors, we will eat ice cream until the wee hours while I write blogs with multiple topics. Who am I kidding? If you donate a penny and show up with a gallon of ice cream, I will eat it with a smile on my face.

Take care

Roger