Zero Buyer's Remorse Here!

This week marked 40 years since I took a seat in the auditorium at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, OK to begin my career as an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration. I had no way of knowing then as I sat there with several hundred others what a blessing that opportunity would be for me. I loved the work and can't imagine a more fulfilling career. It's sobering how quickly 40 years pass by.

There's one remaining stained glass shop in the Twin Cities area after the recent closings of the two main shops that I frequented for my supplies: J Ring Studios and Glass Endeavors. When I first began working with the medium 30 years ago there were close to 15 glass shops in the area. This is not a good trend. The remaining shop, Down Home Stained Glass, is a very small studio with limited hours and limited supplies and not one that I generally use. The next best option is Sleepy Eye Stained Glass, a 3-hour roundtrip drive to the small town of Sleepy Eye. I was told by a friend that the owner is a man in his mid-80s so I'm not sure how much longer the store will be in operation.

I didn't do much glass work this winter and my supply of sun-catchers can attest to that. I'm running low. I remind myself that it's a hobby and not something I want to force myself to do. We've been a little preoccupied with our upper-level remodel that began in late January so that's my excuse. 

Tammy's and my job in the remodel was to move nearly everything from our upper level to our basement to make way for new carpet. We also did whatever painting needed to be done, which was quite a lot. Keith made a vanity for our master bathroom in addition to an over-john cabinet for hand towels and toilet paper. The guys who fitted our shower with a glass surround came out yesterday to install it. All we're waiting on is a few plumbing fixtures before we can complete the project. With supply lines still backed up, it could be weeks or months before they arrive. We're very pleased with our new look. We did make one impulse buy for the project: a Toto Washlet bidet with a heated seat! We're experiencing zero buyer's remorse about that purchase. We love it!

I've been trying to come up with a stained glass design for two side-by-side windows in our master bathroom next to our tub. The stained glass windows we used to have there no longer work for the look we're after. I've been kicking around a couple of designs but my heart isn't sold on either of them. An idea will come to me eventually—until then, I have a couple of sheets of stained glass placed in the windows to obscure the view from outside.

I went in for an infusion of the drug Reclast (zoledronic acid) to aid in strengthening my bones after my recent diagnosis of osteoporosis. The infusion took about 15 minutes. I didn't feel any adverse side effects from the drug until about 36 hours later when I began to experience flu-like symptoms for at least a couple days. In addition to Reclast, I'm taking 1500 mg/daily of calcium and 2000 IU/daily of vitamin D. Both supplements were recommended by my doctor. 

Spring weather is trying to get a foothold here in the Minneapolis area but it's been a struggle. For the most part I've been riding indoors all winter. The Rouvy platform I'm using with my indoor trainer is the most immersive platform of its sort that I've used, with plenty of challenges hosted by Rouvy to keep it fun. But having said that, I'm looking forward to getting out on my gravel bike again regularly. It's sporting new bar tape, a new chain and some new skins. I've been riding with 38mm Panaracer Gravel King tires for the past two years. My new tires are the same but they're a touch wider at 43mm. I'm hoping they'll give me just a little more control and a softer ride. Saturday's weather is looking quite nice at the moment. I hope to be out there enjoying it.

Extra credit reading.

Extra credit viewing.

That's all I've got.