My Week that Was - August 16

Sunrise on the trail. 8/9/25 dwm

The week started with another hot August day and storms forecast in the afternoon, so I got up and out early, 5:20 am, to beat the heat.

The first half-hour I relied on my bike lamp and familiarity with the trail to avoid bumps. That's when I drank my protein shake. 

I used to have a pair of yellow-tinged safety glasses to use during rain or the dark. That old pair might be on a garage shelf, but I've not seen it in a while, so I used sunglasses to keep the wind and bugs out of my eyes.

I didn't stop until pausing to move a large branch that had fallen across much of the Capital City State Trail. It was big and there wasn't enough room to move it off the trail, so I tried to clear as much space as possible.

At least I cleared one lane. 8/9/25 dwm

 The ride was to McFarland and back, turning around at Urso Park, where I reached 20 miles. I'm looking forward to more comfortable conditions, so intentionally made this a shorter trip than usual. Ride 21 was 40 miles at 16.6 miles an hour.

 When I returned home my wife wasn't there. Over the last year she earned certification as a birth and postpartum Doula and recently started serving clients as member of a local agency of doulas.

 Her first clients went to the hospital early Friday evening, and she was with them until after the baby was born. The easiest way to describe her job is that she is a concierge for the mom, offering support, advocacy, and help around the home when providing postpartum care. She's excited about this new chapter and already has clients scheduled from here to the new year. Follow this link to her website for more information.

Is it a grasshopper? 8/14/25 dwm

While walking the stairs at work Wednesday morning, I found a large brown insect perched upside-down on a cinder block separating two 7-step staircases that get you from one floor to the next.

It didn't move. At all. It was there when I walked upstairs at 7:10 and still there when I took a second climb an hour later. It looks like a grasshopper but without large hind-legs. 

After an online search, it seems the bug was a Broad tipped conehead Katydid which was a long way from its natural range which is further south. In Venezuela, it's thought to damage sugar cane.

Whatever it was, it was impressive and pretty cool. 

Later Wednesday we went to a volunteer appreciation party by SAIL (Sharing Active Independent Lives) at the Olbrich Gardens. We both helped with a couple programs and were happy to be included in the fun evening. 

Thursday I made calls, did some writing, and took pictures. After work I picked up dinner at the west side location of Texas Roadhouse, the food wasn't as hot as eating in the restaurant but it was pretty good. 

Friday I finished taking pictures of some of employees for a letter I want to send next month. It was a good day to wrap up a rare five-day work week. We also sent invitations to monthly donors for one of two cookouts in early September. 

The Brewers tied the team record of 13 straight wins as they engineered a seven-run comeback against the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds led 8 - 1 when the Brewers came up in the third, scoring 5 in the third, 2 in the fourth, and single runs in the sixth and seventh while keeping the Reds from scoring after the second inning. This team is amazing and exciting, let's go, Brewers!

Thanks for reading, I hope you have a great week!