My passion is cycling and I share it with my dad. For years, we have explored the trails and the scenic sites together; and there are many in New Mexico. I hope you will have the opportunity to visit. You can imagine that over the years for my dad’s birthday I have given him every imaginable cycling gift I could find. He has tour tee shirts, gloves, a rain poncho, socks with special emblems, books on bikes and the sport of cycling, and much more. This year I am in a quandary about what to get. He doesn’t need more clothing or a new bike. I have given him framed photos of our local area and some of the two of us. So, I need to move in another direction.

Since my dad is a bit of a woodworking pro, I am going to survey what he has in the garage. He owns all the latest tools of the trade and hasn’t mentioned needing a new one. What he has hinted at is the need for a quality bench grinder. I am not even sure what that is. I am heading to the hardware store to find out. I will look at what is available and decide if they have a good selection for sale. Otherwise, it is back to the Internet where I go to find most things I want to buy. In this case, I want to talk to an expert to be sure of what my dad would like. He can explain the special features and what to expect from each model. It won’t be a matter of price since my dad is worth any kind of expenditure. I envision forking out a couple hundred bucks. I went searching and read more about woodworking tools until I knew enough to buy.

It depends on the wheel diameter for one thing. This is key in the world of bench grinders. You will most likely get more than one. After spending a long afternoon with the salesman at the local home depot, I also learned about how an induction motor provides superior power for industrial or home grinding applications. The best bench grinders for woodworking have a rugged base and motor housing of cast iron which means you get durability and prolonged life. Who doesn’t want that? The motor, by the way, runs at 3,600 rpm for high speed material removal. Wow, I am impressed. A precision-machined aluminum tool rest allows the user to accurately position the work. There are rear exhaust ports in the wheel guards for smooth operation. Finally, I learned that there is a 12 ½” distance between the wheels for larger and longer grinding applications. I think this is the right one. I will add a few accessories such as eye shields, spark deflectors, and an adjustment wrench. It is a complete package that is sure to please.

My dad was ecstatic. He will make something nice for me using his new bench grinder. While I would love something hand crafted, his thanks were enough.

Lucky me. I enjoy bike rides all the time through the beautiful countryside of New Mexico, known for so many scenic views throughout the state. If you have sunshine, a blue sky, mountains as far as the eye can see, and an occasional river or stream, you are in my kind of heaven. No wonder I get in such a good mood on weekends. This is my time to enjoy cycling in nature. I enjoy my lovely surroundings as I get healthy. I originally began to ride when I wanted a quick way to lose weight without the boredom of the gym. I never tire of the sport and my trusty mountain bike.

Cycling can be a solo endeavor and there are times when you want to be with friends and do something else. A picnic in the park is a wonderful way to have an outdoor social encounter of a different kind. It can also get athletic if you bring a good soccer ball along. Just one look at it and your friends will be up and ready for a quick game. I always bring one to rev up the spirits. It is a good way to work up a good appetite. The smell of cooking burgers on a grill is a surefire lure as well.

It used to be soft ball at picnics and now soccer has taken over the American national pastime. It is so popular that you now see it everywhere. All the kids play it at school and are on special teams. It builds confidence, good sportsmanship, athletic skills, and more. At my stage in life, it means an extraordinary day in the park kicking a ball around for fun. If there is rivalry about who is the best player, it can get tense; but most of the time, it is lighthearted. It is about the game, of course, but also about exercise, the warm breeze on your neck, and the steady march toward skill improvement. This is what athletics are all about. They all have similar goals but the means to the end is quite different. I like a game that uses the legs primarily and involves a lot of running about.

After a few practice sessions, it is time to eat the picnic fare. We always go potluck and thus there are dozens of delicious choices. If you are great at salads, that is what you bring. If you like to cook, you get grill duty. Bakers bring cakes, pies, and cookies galore. It is a veritable feast under the sun. Everything is inviting and the red and white checkered table cloth is a prerequisite. You can’t have a true picnic without it. The cook gets a silly chef’s hat and apron. Someone inevitably blasts some music and you might spot a few energetic souls gyrating gleefully. A picnic brings out the best in us as it is a reminder of our happy youth and the glory days before we had adult responsibilities.

I am so lucky. I ride my bicycle to work through some gorgeous New Mexico scenery. I have my regular route so on weekends I like to explore the unknown paths around River City. Someday I will create a map for visitors who want to share a wonderful outdoor experience. Meanwhile, I am contemplating a small problem – I can’t get up in the morning at my preferred time. I don’t know why I am suffering from a common complaint as nothing much has changed in my life. It could be what I am eating, but I have not altered my diet. It could be a new regimen at the gym, but that hardly seems to be a viable culprit. I do have a lot on my mind, and that could account for trouble rising. It seems to me that you must be rested and relaxed to get up promptly at the sound of your alarm clock.

My alarm clock isn’t that old so it has all the usual bells and whistles and you can program it with ease. I don’t use the radio as blaring music is not my idea of the best way to greet the day. It worked when I was a teenager, but not anymore. I have tried the nature noises and do like a few of them, such as the one with waves gently crashing against the shore. It creates nice imagery in your mind. I still have trouble, however, and am thinking about using the sunrise simulation setting which generates soft, mellow light to encourage you to wake up. I love the idea and it does work well. These new alarm clocks are wonders. It is really a unique experience to see the variety of colored light you can select.

If you are thinking about getting a new clock, by all means, consider those with sunrise and sunset settings. You can choose from five or six sounds of nature and a range of colors sure to please. I read this blog post and now believe I am going to master my little problem. You would think that a nice bike ride would be enough to stimulate me in the morning. Now I have a little help. No more being late to work or having to miss breakfast. No more revving up the car because it is faster than riding my bike. There are multiple ways to start your day, so go for what suits your mood. You can program your clock to wake up with different nature sounds every day in rotation. The colored hues make for a great night light as well.

When I was a kid, all I needed was a “rise and shine” from mom and the smells of bacon cooking. Now I have to be more inventive about controlling my routine. With the help of new technology, I have it all at hand. A few simple buttons on the clock will result in morning bliss.