I don’t read as much as I one did and lately I’ve been missing it. When I was in school I used to love driving down to Long Beach and hanging out in the coffee shops just to read. Now I live in Long Beach and I am so close to these places but I never seem to find the time to just slow down. Maybe it is because I have a real job now and a number of other things to occupy my time.

Today I am trying something new. It is Friday and I am riding the bus to work. I got up about an hour earlier than usual and rode my bike to the bus stop which was not only a great ride but also provided for a little exercise. First bus had no room for my bike so I had to wait a bit for the next. Might be a bit late but it is Friday and I’m sure I’ll end up staying a little late anyway.

So yeah. Here I am sitting on the bus. I’m saving some gas which was one of my goals for the new year and I’m getting Zen! My book is patiently waiting on my lap as it has been waiting on my shelf for two years. The Little White Bird by J.M. Barrie is a book that I have started to read four times now. I shouldn’t keep it waiting any longer. Here are a couple pictures:

UPDATE:  After writting this post on the bus it began raining like crazy.  Biked about a mile in the rain to the office and showed up to work a little late and totally soaked.  I loved every second of it!

I should be sleeping right now, but my mind is a little bit restless tonight and seems to desire aimless wandering on the web.  I haven’t posted anything in quite some time and I promise I will do better in 2009.  We’ll see if that really happens.  Anyway, tonight I stumbled across a bike company that I have never heard of before which are crafting some of the most gorgeous bicycles I have ever seen.  The company is called Freeman Transport and they hand-craft their bikes in Montana.  One of the greatest features of these bicycles is that through the use of S-and-S couplings that have been able to successfully develop a bicycle that can be easily disassembled and packed into a leather and canvas carrying case.  Frame kits are currently being sold on their website for $2,475.00.  Doesn’t look like I’ll be buying one soon, but someday I hope to be a freeman.  Here are a few pictures:

One of their bikes and the bag that it fits in

Bike in the bag

The emblem may be reason enough to buy the bike

Lately it seems like the days on my calendar have come to life and taken it upon themselves to go out and schedule meetings and travel and plan events and a whole mess of other things.  I’m sorry to say that this busyness has caused me to seriously neglect a few of my ongoing projects.  The cider for instance needs to be worked on, my Schwinn Varsity still needs to resurrected to new life, and none of my new year’s goals have been attained.  So instead of providing an update on these projects I will share with you one of the many things that brings a smile to my face every day.  Here is today’s Dinosaur Comic!

I just wanted to take a moment on this October 31st to share with everyone the pumpkin or pum-pum that Ruthi and I carved this year.  The robot’s name is Robbie and he was carved using a  linoleum block carving tool.  I like him!

this is my crew

And this is where the hard cider project begins.  It is pretty simple really.  Juice the apples, add the sugar, and then heat for 45 minutes, but don’t boil or you will cause the cider to become forever cloudy.

While that is cooking use the B.E.S.T. sanitize everything that the  cider will come into contact with.  This prevents stray bacteria and other yuck from crashing the party.

Once the mixture is done cooking let it cool down to room temperature.  This takes a long time and is really annoying, but if you skip this step you will kill the yeast and just have a lot of juice in a jug with dead yeast.

When cool enough, it is time to add the yeast.  Follow the instructions on the package.  Mine said to mix yeast with 2 oz. warm water, let sit 15 minutes and then stir.  When that is done add the yeast nutrient to the yeast and gently mix it up.

Now put the sugary apple juice mixture into the sanitized carboy and add in the yeast mixture.  Give the jug a little swirl to make things are mixing together nicely.  Put your stopper and airlock in the carboy and fill the airlock with water.

Now it is time to let our little friends the yeast do what they do best.  Put this whole setup in a dark place where the temperature will not exceed 70 degrees.  Gas should start venting from the airlock within a day or two which will let you know that the yeast are happy.  Just let it sit.  Don’t move, don’t taste it, don’t add anything to it.  In about two weeks the primary fermentation will be done and it will be time to move onto the next step.