Perihelion

Okay, so here it is Wednesday and for a change today will be my Hump Day... kind of.  Since I'm not working a full week, I only get a few moments to celebrate.  Where's the champagne?
I didn't ride last evening because my quads were sore.  Back on 1/26 I rode I rode 13 miles on 'Crow Road, South Side,' a route in the UK which is two long hills with a valley in the middle.  I kept the gear low and pushed my legs.  That night I woke up as they started to ache.  Ouch.  On the 29th they were actually sore to the touch.  Soreness is not a bad thing.  Soreness means I used those muscles harder than normal resulting in very minute micro tears in the tissue.  I know this might be difficult for some to believe, but those tears are a necessary building block in muscle growth.  The new cells healing those tears build muscle strength, as well as size.  Tonight I ride again.
For those who keep track of such things, we are gaining about 2 minutes of daylight every day.  That will slow down as we approach perihelion.  Isn't that a nice word?  I learned it back when my brain was a young sponge soaking up everything it could.  Because of that, I get to squeeze it now and then and wonderful words drip out.  Perihelion.
I read where Crater Face Mnuchin is not too happy with the way trade talks are going with the UK.  I'm wondering if BoBo Johnson has come to understand those great deals the Idiot Jerk talked about were seriously one-sided.
And what about the Impeachment?  The Idiot Jerk's defense team wrapped up yesterday.  During their three days, his talking heads spent more time blaming then defending.  Isn't that always the case with Republicans?  Prepare yourselves... Moscow Mitch is going to delay the vote on witnesses as long as legally possible.  Even though a majority of Americans desperately want to hear what John Bolton says, having witnesses will be the death knell for the Idiot Jerk.  Witnesses will bring about the downfall of the Republican Party.  How do I know this?  Just look at Moscow Mitch's face.

Stewing in his own sin

Conservatives have reached perihelion... and it is cooking them alive while most of the Northern Hemisphere is shivering.

Legs, the engines of the body.

Legs are the engines of your body, so I’ve been told by Shaun S. a former Wellness Coach. He’s right.  Your legs contain the largest muscle groups of your body and as such burn more calories then other muscle groups and put the ‘C’ in Cardio.  They are also the biggest pain in the ass to work out, which is why so many people ignore them.   You know who I’m talking about, those guys with a 48” chest, 22” guns and abs that run for miles sporting themselves around on a pair of flamingo legs. Your legs do let you know you’ve been ‘working’ your quads after a really good set of dumbbell squats and lunges, and of course later there will be the pain and suffering during your recovery period.  Stairs can be horrendous.  How bad can it get?  I have a friend who always gets quite religious after a leg workout, I know because he always seems to be muttering “oh, Jesus” under his breath.  The only thing that helps is the knowledge that once you get into a routine recovery speeds up a lot.  Instead of suffering through agony you merely pass through discomfort.

For the faint of heart there are alternatives to lunging and squatting, I know, I rarely do either.  This is one method.  I can pop either as little or as much weight I want on this baby.  Three times a week and you’re set.

And this is another way.  I can ride for miles and miles on a pair of these.

As for running?  I don't.  I've met too many people who ran in their twenties and thirties who now, heading into their sixties and seventies, find out they're going to need to replace knees and hips.  

Oh, by the way, the legs at the top?  They're not mine.  Mine are in much better shape.