Back in the saddle again.

You get to a point where you simply have to exercise regardless of air quality or weather conditions. Tonight could have been worse for the first ride in 11 days. 

"Move it, or lose it." I believe in the concept greatly, but I'm violating it regularly now in the heavy air pollution season. Something needs must change...

AQI of 90 might not seem too bad.

But if you look at PM2.5, it's kind of depressing.

Maybe I did more harm than good with this exercise?

I can handle 29 degrees at 70% humidity.

It's when the humidity gets up above 85% that I start tapping out.

11 or 12 days between bicycle rides.

Not good.

The gray haze.

20240217-1410

Locked in...

One good thing about being locked indoors by air pollution is that you get some paperwork chores done. I mean, what else are you going to do? You're locked in.

Tonight, I completed two 2023 tax year FBARs (Foreign Bank Account Report) and submitted a request for a VA home loan certificate of eligibility. If the air pollution continues at these hazardous levels, my 2023 taxes will get done--I hope. The FBARs were a good start.

20240214-2300

The bright side of life.

Like Monty Python sang, "Always look on the bright side of life."

One good thing about air pollution, despite the risk of stroke, dementia, and eye disease, is some beautiful sunsets.

20240212-1808

Temperature not too bad at 29 degrees.

AQI not so good at 126...

For air pollution, you need a KN95 mask.

A standard KF94 Covid mask won't do.

Always look on the bright side of life

Grateful for marginal air quality: I ride again.

When the air is consistently hazardous, one is grateful for days when the air is somewhat less hazardous. With a marginal AQI (Air Quality Index) reading of 67, I went for it. Maybe I've slightly increased my chances of stroke, dementia, and eye disease, but at least I won't be going crazy today. This was the first bicycle ride possible in 12 days.

20240210

Our biggest tree is laden with flowers.

I don't remember so many nice orange flowers last year. Looking very good this year.

20240209

Thinking about getting a second bike...

I can get a pretty good deal on this one:

20240209

新年快樂

Happy Chinese New Year 2024!!! At Central Plaza mall, the Lion Dance was boisterous, as it should be. Downstairs, two gentlemen who see without using their eyes played a nice mellow set of tunes. As you can imagine, I pretty much ran away from the Lion Dance, and stuck around for the mellow tunes. Until the Lion Dance approached and overwhelmed the mellow tunes, at which time it was necessary to run away for good.

20240220

Chinese New Year's Resolution: No more photos of toad frogs, snails, and slugs.

Already messed up on your New Year's resolutions? No worries. Your second chance arrives with Chinese New Year on February 10th. For myself, I resolve to stop taking photos of toad frogs, snails, and slugs. These photos are useless, not the kind I want to display in a slideshow. No more!!!

Happy Year of the Dragon!!!

20240203

I ride again...

I rode my bicycle again tonight, the first ride after a 48-hour bout with probable norovirus. That little two-day, two-night session of pain and discomfort made me realize a couple of things. 

1. I am extremely grateful to still be able to ride a bicycle.
   
   
2. I feel great sympathy for those who frequently suffer pain and discomfort. They are many, and they include some of my family, relatives, friends, and neighbors.

If you're hurting right now, I feel you. I'm praying you get to a point where you can feel at least okay again.