So *that's* what they feel like!

I went to my hand doc, a reconstructive and plastic surgeon, today so he could have another look at the ropy, knotty growth of tissue that is causing me some pain and limited mobility in my left hand. The disorder is called Dupytren's Contracture.

We talked about treatment, and decided on a steroid shot to help with the pain.

The doc said, "OK, let's numb your hand and do this," as he left the room.

He came back and instructed me to lay my hand palm up on the table.

"Hold this in your palm. It's cold and will numb your hand

for the shot."

He put this in my hand.

Did I mention that he's a plastic surgeon?

On the way home, I saw this van and cracked up.

more follow-up to Best Job Ever

Adria is on a strike team down south near LA, working on the Station Fire.

She sent these pictures from her phone.

An engine...



A 747 just after it dropped retardant...



Adria, on a break from doing structure protection. These "structures" happened to be a movie set!


Adria feeding a baby kangaroo. I texted her back asking her if it was an extra from the Crocodile Dundee movie set she was protecting. No answer yet...

just another Santa Cruz day

It has been unseasonably hot in Santa Cruz the last few days.

I surfed this morning, not because the waves were great, but because I knew the cold water would feel good.

In between sets, I struck up a conversation with a couple from Sacramento. They asked where I live and I said "Right up there, on the corner." She replied, "Oh, you're one of the lucky ones."

After my surf, I took Greta for a romp on the beach...

...where she won at digging the best holes. When a wave would fill the hole with water, she would plop down it in and just look around. Like she planned it that way.

I ran into a friend of mine, Sun, and his son Wyatt, on East Cliff...

...and I saw my friend Ron checking out these surfboards for sale.

what does it mean...

...when I see a question mark in the sky?

bikes may use full lane

I participated in a memorial bike ride on Sunday to raise awareness of the need for bike-friendly routes and signage in Santa Cruz. In the last few years two bicyclists have been killed on Mission St., a major artery through Santa Cruz. I've heard Mission called by it's moniker "Mission Impossible" by people who have no choice but to use it - and these are people who have to do it in CARS! Aggravated drivers, mixed with bicyclists who need to use it as well, create a real unsafe mess. I am not scared riding in traffic, taking the lane. Unless it's on Mission. And luckily, I NEVER have to ride it. 

But on this day, there was safety in numbers. There were nearly 60 bicyclists - from fixies, to tandems, to mountain bikes, to recumbents, to commuters, to cruisers. We took over the right lane, used hand signals, stopped at stop signs and red lights, allowed pedestrians to cross, and generally tried to show cars that we are not blocking traffic, we ARE traffic. 

Quick! Fixed or not? 

Honk if you love bikes, the sign reads. I wonder if that's really why the cars were honking?

This guy calls himself Cat. Go figure. I think he's a retired carpenter, judging from his hands and the funny shaped pencil he was using to trace the route. 

Peace. One of the tangible benefits of riding bikes. 

greta garden kisses

I strolled through Adria's garden this afternoon to see what's happening.

I sat on the gravel, inches from the new veggie bed she created recently for chard and peas, with the intention of taking a few pictures of the plants. 

Greta came over and laid this one on me.

I like dogs, but I don't like dogs licking me. 

Greta's figured that out, I think, because she usually just does a fly-by with her big schnoz, and never really tries to make contact with her tongue. 

But she fooled me this time. Dang her!

the week in pictures

We have a new addition to the quiver - a Trek 520 for Adria. Here she is at Spokesman watching as they put the finishing touches on it before we went for a shakedown ride. 

A shot from our shakedown ride - a 30 miler into the Aptos hills. I think when this shot was taken we had stopped to either look at the map or look for wild blackberries, when Adria looked down and commented "Look! Our bikes like each other!"

Took a spin in "Big Al" at work - it's a show truck that one of our transportation vendors uses for promotions. 

Greta guarding the quiver, with the newest (until Saturday) getting rebuilt on the workbench.

The progress I've made on the Schwinn re-build. This is the '73 I bought a few weeks ago, with plans on converting it to an around-town-fixie.

An up-close shot of the clunky parts they used back in '73 on bikes. 

Every evening I write down something that I'm grateful for. Lately, I've felt so much gratitude for Adria's efforts in the garden. The tomatoes are coming in!

There's a story behind this one, that you will soon hear about in person, or read about here.

What we're having for dinner tonight.