Dennis B Murphy >>>>>>>>>>

Blog: Thoughts and Commentary

Back

January 2008

1.27.08 Updated- I finished reading The Happiness Hypothesis- interesting book. What I took from it was that our outlook and approach to moral and ethical actions are partly based in our evolutionary genetics and partly based on our ability to actually determine our stance. Quite a bit of research was presented to show how love, attachment, disgust, etc., are rooted in evolutionary biology and anthropology as human societies evolved and progressed- the point of survival and how it was facilitated by these factors. No "theist" will accept the positions presented (as hypothesis of course) because they automatically reject anything that presents morals as other then deity-based.

1.27.08 It was a long week- Sunday I got the new bathroom sink/cabinet installed, as well as vinyl flooring. I then proceeded to get the sink water and drain hooked up. The water was easy, the drain more difficult. I hate doing plumbing. I just knew I was going to have problems and sure enough- leaks! I didn't connect something correctly and water gushed all over. Of course, by the time this happened it was after 700pm and Home Depot and similar stores was closed. I had to leave Monday afternoon for a week of work travel so Joni and Brenden went the whole week with no bathroom sink- a minor inconvenience.

Flight out Monday afternoon to McAllen Texas. The flight went from Grand Rapids with a four hour layover in Dallas Airport, then to McAllen. Dean was on the same flight and we ate at Chili's in the airport before parting on different flights- he was going to Chihuahua, while I diverted to McAllen.

The next morning was a short visit to the supplier location accompanying four Japanese representatives of our customer's company. We stopped at Subway for lunch and Iida-san was shocked that I ordered a foot-long sandwich (they all ordered 6-inchers). But as we ate, they were reading the calories list on the napkin and my vegetarian sandwich had fewer calories than their six inch meat laden sandwiches. Off to the airport for the flight to Dallas and a two hour layover before catching the flight to Chihuahua Mexico. We had dinner at Bennigans in the airport at Dallas. I had had a blackbean burger at Chili's the day before. Bennigans had one too, but it was a better blackbean burger than the Chili's version.

We got to Chihuahua Tuesday night after 10pm. I rented a taxi-van at the airport to transport all five of us to the Chihuahua Hampton Inn.

Wednesday involved accompanying the Japanese guests on a plant visit and then getting them off to the airport for their flight out Wednesday afternoon. Thursday saw a team of three Honda engineers on a visit which took most of the day.

Friday night, after the workday completed at the plant, I went to the pub with a group of the staff from Jabil- Susana, Gustavo, Ramon, Julio, Claudia, Pablo and others. It was a fun bar, but it impressed upon me the need to learn more Spanish. I got back to the hotel at not-too-late an hour (about 1230am) and got five hours sleep before getting up, finishing packing, and heading to the hotel. The flight out was at 730am to Dallas with a shorter layover of two hours- but the flight to Grand Rapids was delayed 1/2 hour. I arrived in Grand Rapids at 330pm.

I had asked my sister's husband, Bill, if he could help with the sink issue Sunday, but they had plans and so came over on Saturday. They were already at the house when I got back to Grand Rapids. By the time I got home, Bill had determined the problem and after a quick visit to Home Depot and five minutes under the sink- he had the drain working fine. Turns out one of the PVC tubes had a prominent crack in it which I never noticed in my haste and frustration I must have overlooked the previous week. For their assistance, Joni and I took Bill & Jan to Red Robin for dinner.

Back to work tomorrow..... and back to working out- to get on the spinner. There won't be any outdoor riding for a while as there is just much to much snow and it is much too cold.

1.22.08 What a slow, slow month. I haven't done much riding at all- work travel, household remodeling projects as well as horrible weather have conspired to limit my bike time. I've decided that when I get back from this current round of travel, beginning next week, I will attempt to be ON THE BIKE at least five times per week- whether on the road - or if the weather is uncooperative, then in the basement on the spinner. Steady training in February and March should do well for me entering the spring riding season in April.

We saw Atonement last week- excellent movie- highly recommended. Tragic love story.

1.13.08 I had intended to ride the road Saturday, but after I got home from a meeting at 1pm, developed a painful sinus headache and decided to relax. So, Sunday, I got the trainer hooked up in the basement and put in a hard 30 minutes with 155bpm on the heart rate monitor. I intend to ride the trainer every day that I don't ride outside to effectively be riding every day. La Ruta...or bust LOL

1.07.08 Not much riding the last few weeks. I rode Saturday for 18 miles. Today, the weather hit 61! Balmy for January- whew! I had intended to do more miles, but ended up with 30 miles. I got to ride the Market St trail this time since the moderate weather had eliminated the ice that sent me down on my side last month. The lightning to the north-west got closer and closer during the ride, so rather than push my luck and risk getting really soaked (instead of just road spray) I headed home. The wind was really picking up as well.

I booked my motel room for Lumberjack- Friday and Saturday night a block down from the awards hall. I decided to try a bed and room instead of a tent this year. Next week I am calling our usual motel in Marquette to book for Ore-to-Shore.