Its New Year's Eve and a beautiful day for a bike ride. The temps were in the low 80's with blue skies and a few wispy clouds. Parked at Fairmont Park in Riverside and off I went.

Luckily it was also a nice day for a walk because about 4.8 miles from my car I broke a piece off my bike.  I was on a dirt road doing a little exploring off the main bike path when everything jammed up. Looked down and the piece that the chain serpentines thru was hanging in the wheel.  That's not good.

It could have been a lot worse.  I could have been further from my car.  The weather could have been lousy.  The bike could have been so broke the back wheel wouldn't turn and I would have had to carry the sucker back.  Or I could have been thrown from the bike and broken a bone. 

As it was, it was only my spirit that was broken.  I walked back the 4.8 miles to my car pushing my bike and coasting on the down hills.  Several riders offered help, but, as I told one guy, I was was way broke. 

So I guess I'll be making a trip to the bike shop next week.  My bike will be four years old this February.  

"The main hang up in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked or smoking pot, or whatever they want to do, then we're never going to get anywhere. People have got to become aware that it's none of their business and that being nude is not obscene. Being ourselves is what's important. If everyone practiced being themselves instead of pretending to be what they aren't, there would be peace."

John Lennon

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like."

Will Rogers.

When I am an old woman (man) I shall wear NOTHING!
I’ll carry a towel and let my wrinkles show.
And I shall spend my pension on good wine and beach towels.
And hiking sandals, and say we’ve no money for clothes.
I shall sit down in the sand when I am tired
And gobble up desserts at potlucks and press for hugs
And run my mouth at naturist gatherings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go without my slicker in the rain
And wear in my hair the wild flowers I’ve found
And learn Akido.

You can wear nothing at all, grow more fat
And lie in the sun all day; or the shade
Or go to all the naturist gatherings
And give your clothes to Mission instead of hoarding them.

But now we must have clothes that keep us covered
And pay our rent and not moon anyone in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must meet friends for dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So more people can understand and appreciate
And enjoy their wrinkles openly, too.

By Marilyn R. Lovell

The Muppets - The Devil Went Down to Jamaica.

This is great!!  We have a Christmas Eve tradition at out house to watch the movie "A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott as Mr. Scrooge.  I quickly deduced that Mr. Scrooge was the poster boy for the 1% and Bob Cratchet for the 99%.  I made one comment about it to the family and then let it slide so as not to ruin the evening for my family who already think I'm nuts for supporting the OWS movement.

I did, however, make mental notes of several occasions where the rub between the 1% and 99% were quite obvious.  Families living under a bridge, the Cratchet family celebrating with a small turkey, and of course Mr Scrooge lambasting the poor by asking if there are no more prisons, or poor houses to go too. 

Mr. Scrooge comes around and makes amends for his thoughtless ways.  I don't expect our current 1% to do the same unless forced to do so. 

Rode my mountain bike from the park to the beach today and met Karen who walked along the boardwalk. It was a nice day with temps in the mid 60's when I left the park.

It appears that the hobos decorated their hang out across from the Honda Center for the holidays.

It was beautiful at Huntington Beach with a slight breeze and temps in the high 60's.  The crowds along the boardwalk were lighter than a weekend, even with school out for winter break.  I didn't ride all the way to the pier, so it may have been busier there.

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Best Christmas present of all.  This is a U.S. Army soldier returning home from Iraq to Ft. Hood, Texas, in time to share the holidays with his wife and kids.  The patch on his shoulder indicates that he is in the 1st Cavalry Division, my old division, out of Ft. Hood. 

This video is pretty funny.  You really have to pay attention because it goes really fast.  We received a Christmas card from my son Brian in this Jib Jab format that was real cute. Enjoy.

Here are some last-minute tips on how to properly wrap a Christmas present from Chips Tips. This is pretty funny.

Winter Solstice sunset over Stonehedge

Yesterday, December 22nd was the winter solstice, which marks the beginning of winter and the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  Southern Californa only basked in sunlight for about 10 hours. 

I think it's really cool that "secret Santa's" have been going to their local  K-mart stores and paying off layaway costs for those less fortunate. 

According to an article on www.nbcphiladephia.com anonymous donors are picking up the tab on layaways for families they have never met. 

The layaway tabs very from $30 to $1,000 and several donors have paid multiple tabs. 

I wish I had the money to do this for a family or two. 

Occupy Lego Land!!!