Reading Goals & Riding High: A Year-End Check-In

Sleepy Oliver on Christmas Eve

It feels like a good time for a rambling post about various things that come to mind while I write. I had to share sleepy Oliver on Christmas Eve in Lawrence. We had a fun time in Lawrence from Monday - Wednesday that found Oliver tired from keeping us all in line and staying up late a few nights. He needed the rest to be ready for the holiday season.

Washburn is closed December 23 - January 1. Carrie and I both took off January 2 and 3, so we have a two week time off of work which we are enjoying. No travel for us during this time off, but we are catching up on things around the house which is good. 

I have been enjoying various sporting events that have been happening during the holiday break. A few NFL games on Christmas Day, Thursday Night football, Saturday NFL games, and then of course Sunday NFL. Carrie is not a fan and is happy to know that the end of the NFL season is fast approaching. Me, I am not so happy. My fantasy teams this year were a disaster for a variety of reasons, but still, I had a fun time following fantasy teams this year.

My reading journey continues, but I will not be anywhere close to my reading goal for 2024 (see post). I am almost done with a book I got for free from Amazon and been reading for a while. I am about 70% of the way done without two hours of reading time remaining. I am hoping to knock out this last book before the end of the year. Doing so would put me at 12 out of 25 for the year. Not bad, but I am disappointed that I did not get close to the 25 goal I had set for the year.

On the exercise front, I am happy to report that I have continued to ride our exercise bike. I started riding on December 1 and I have been riding twice a week since then. I bought some new bike shorts to help with longer rides that provide some padding. I am currently selecting classes that are 30 minutes long which is about right for me at this time, but I plan to extend to 45 minute classes here soon that I will do at least once a week. I have enjoying getting back into live classes and my favorite day for live classes is still Sunday at 11 am CDT with Alley Love. There are usually around two thousand plus other riders in the class, so there is a lot of activity and a lot of high fives. It makes for a fun class and keeps me interested in doing the class each week.

Enough rambling for today. I hope you have a great finish to 2024 with only three days left. I am looking forward to 2025, where I will focus on my personal reading challenges, exercise and fitness, camping plans for the summer, and frequent travel throughout the year.

Merry Christmas Eve 2024

It's hard to believe that it's the end of 2024, and Christmas Day is tomorrow. Another year is winding down, and I'm fortunate enough to be able to be with family this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve this year finds Carrie, Oliver, and me in Lawrence staying at my mom's for a few days before we head back to Topeka Christmas Day to celebrate the day with the Shirrons.

I hope you are able to be with family and friends during this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

I Was Skeptical, But Apple Sports Won Me Over

iPhone Sports App

iPhone Sports App: A Convert's Perspective

For years, iPhone users have relied on third-party apps for sports scores and updates. But Apple recently stepped into the game with its own Sports app, and after some initial skepticism, I'm now a convert. The Apple Sports app was introduced on the iPhone on February 21, 2024. I initially tried it back in February, but it lacked customization, so I didn't use it for long. However, I've returned to using the app for the past two months, and I'm enjoying it much more. Apple has made several improvements that enhance usability, including displaying live games I follow on my lock screen and Apple Watch. Adding or removing games from my "followed" list is now a breeze.

While other apps on my phone (e.g., ESPN, MLB, NFL) offer game tracking, I particularly appreciate how Apple Sports displays real-time countdowns on my lock screen and Apple Watch. Often, the countdown is ahead of what I see on TV, giving me a more "live" feel.

Follow a Specific Game

Following a Specific Game

The screenshot shows the games I'm currently following. In this case, there are NFL games and college basketball games. To follow a game on your lock screen or Apple Sports, simply open the game in the app and tap the icon in the upper right corner of the game details. Tapping the icon again unfollows the game.

The ability to display followed games on the lock screen is a relatively recent addition, introduced within the last two or three months. This feature wasn't available at the app's initial launch and has been a game-changer for me. I often close live updates from other apps like NFL or ESPN, relying on Apple Sports for at-a-glance updates.

Followed Game on Lock Screen

Lock Screen Updates

As shown in the screenshots, Apple Sports provides clear updates on the lock screen and Apple Watch. On my Apple Watch, I receive notifications for scores, end of quarters, and halftime/game endings. These notifications can be customized if you only want to see score updates.

Final Thoughts

I am currently using Apple Sports as my primary app for following my teams. I appreciate the real-time updates, which seem faster than those in other apps. Occasionally, a game might not update correctly, requiring me to force-close and restart the app, but this is a minor inconvenience.

I'm optimistic that Apple will continue to update and improve the Apple Sports experience. If you haven't tried it recently, I encourage you to check it out.

Christmas Cheer: "Finding the Light" - Music, Laughter, and Holiday Reflection

Merry Christmas 2024

Friday night, Carrie and I had the pleasure of attending "Finding the Light: Event and Reading." We went not really knowing what to expect, but it was so fun. It was a production of readings, music, and fun. The plot revolved around guests attending a Christmas party and the troubles or issues that arise in life while trying to navigate the holiday season.

The performance made us laugh, shed a tear, and feel reflective about the Christmas holiday. It was something I would see again next year if they produce it again. I would love to take my family and friends to see it too. We heard about it from Erin and Greg, as the people who wrote the original musical were, or have been, involved with the Topeka Civic Theatre located in Topeka, KS. Our friends, Jason F and Jason D, were in the band and sounded fantastic! It was a fun night, and I hope they do it again next year as we would definitely see it again.

This was truly the first Christmas celebration outside of work that Carrie or I have attended this year. A little unusual, but it was nice to hear some original songs alongside some of the familiar Christmas carols. It was a special and enjoyable evening.

Selfie in Front of Christmas Tree

We took some time to take pictures in front of the beautifully decorated Christmas tree that was set up. They offered some delightful drinks to enjoy before, during, and after the event concluded, along with some light snacks. It made for a perfect evening of entertainment and truly put me in the Christmas spirit. 

As we approach the final full week before Christmas, I can hardly believe that 2024 is coming to an end. It will soon be Christmas 2024, and the year will be over a week later. Yes, I say it every year, but the years seem to be flying by faster and faster. You blink, and suddenly the year is over. I have a lot to do this next week at work before wrapping up 2024. I am looking forward to some time off to regroup and prepare for 2025.

Have a great week, and make sure to savor the build-up to the Christmas holiday.

New Features, New Motivation: My Return to Peloton

Peloton Stats Since I Started November 13, 2020

I got back on the bike on Sunday, December 1 and it felt great! The last time I rode the bike was on July 30, 2023. I had used the Peloton app a few times in 2023, but nothing on the bike since 2023. It felt good to be back on the bike and I feel motivation to ride again for the first time in over a year.

It had been so long since I had last used the bike that I found a number of new features have been added. Some I knew about and some I did not know had been added. The new additions I like included YouTube TV and Kindle are now part of the Peloton offerings meaning I can watch TV while biking or I can read my book and both are synced up to my accounts so I am seeing my current offerings. 

If I recall correctly, back in 2023 they were just getting ready to introduce YouTube TV as an option, but apparently it was not enough to prompt me to return back in the middle of 2023. I am glad to see it now as sometimes I just want to ride and watch TV. Other options added include Netflix which will also be fun to have available. I did not look at any other options, but happy to see the two mentioned services that are now available.

My plan for this biking renewal is to ride two or three times a week. The days will be fluid where I can ride any day as long as I get in at least two rides each week. I would prefer to ride at least three times, but I also do not want to overdo it to start. I bought some new biking shorts to help with sitting on the seat that can honestly get a little uncomfortable especially if I am riding a lot during the week or for long periods of time. Hoping the new shorts help in providing cushion from the seat.

It makes me laugh though as my dog, Oliver, is never sure what I am doing in the guest room on this thing. He walks in, looks at me as if I am crazy, and then leaves. Sometimes he just sits outside of the room in the doorway watching me. I wonder what he is thinking while he watches me on this metal thing and I am grunting while giving effort to the workout.

Through the years, I had connected with a few people on the Peloton app. I am following 23 people and I have 24 followers. I wonder how many of those people are still active members. I will see who is active as I start this new journey and become active again in the community.

You might wonder if I have tried Apple Fitness+ and I have but it is nice to have videos and interaction as part of the Peloton Bike+ experience altogether. Carrie and I have Apple Fitness+ as part of our combined services for Apple One which consists of Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV+, iCloud+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Fitness+. Of the services of Apple One, we use Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple TV+ the most. We take advantage of the iCloud+ for additional storage for our accounts. So far, I have not found the Apple Fitness+ useful for doing the bike, but I have used the service when running outside.

What fitness app are you using? Why?

Be sure to watch for future updates on my journey. You know I will be posting about them as I progress in my journey. I am ready for the journey and that is half of the process to get motivated. Let's GO!

First Snow of 2024: A Lazy Saturday and a Promise to Ride

First Snow of 2024

Snow had been in the forecast for a week or so leading up to Thanksgiving. It disappeared and would reappear a few times, but it did finally happen today on November 30. I was remembering a year ago we had our first snow on this day too as Carrie and I went to a Washburn basketball game when it was snowing after Thanksgiving break. There was a game today, but Carrie and I were both tired, so we decided to stay home today. A pretty snow although I have not heard how much snow we had. 

The Saturday following two Thanksgiving celebrations is a lazy Saturday for us. We have dishes to do, but I have taken a few naps throughout the afternoon. Watched the Jayhawks lose their last game of the season in football to Baylor with Baylor being too much for us after knocking off three ranked teams in a row, we stumbled with Baylor.

Sleepy Oliver

Oliver is enjoying the lazy day as he relaxes on the couch in a pile of blankets where he is sleeping and staying warm. I think we had his heated blanket on too that he is using through the day. Yes, he's quite spoiled, but we adore him.

Not a lot planned for tonight. I had leftovers for lunch and will have leftovers for dinner too. They are so good! I love Thanksgiving leftovers. We have homemade pies to eat tonight which include sweet potato pie and dixie pie.

Yes, you guessed right that tomorrow I plan to start riding my bike again. I have been away from bike riding, or exercise, for a few months, but I plan to get back on the bike tomorrow and start the journey. That's what always happens following Thanksgiving where new gym memberships are started and people make decisions to start working out again. That is me this time too and hoping to stick with bike riding two or three times a week. I am feeling excited to start riding again, so that will help to keep me motivated to do so.

Until next week, have a great week and stay warm.

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a Great Thanksgiving 2024!

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend. I may have mentioned this before, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the food, a little too much, and I love spending time with family and friends.

A friend shared the classic Charlie Brown quote earlier this week: "What if today, we were just grateful for everything?" It's so fitting for Thanksgiving, and I thought it would be a great way to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

I know I'll be enjoying turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and, of course, pie. What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes? Or do you have a different family tradition?

However you choose to celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and get to spend time with loved ones.