Late April Ohio

Last week I went to Ohio for a few days. On the agenda was the following:

1. Fix the Saab
A) Oil sump cleaning and oil change
B) Replace the antenna I broke when I opened the hatch while the radio was on.
C) PCV system update

All the work was split on Thursday or Saturday. A week later, and I still have grease under my fingernails. I was so knocked out by the work on Saturday (took me four hours of work to get the pan off, cleaned and back on) that I probably burned the same amount of energy as if I had gone on some crazy long Judson ride.

2. Visit my maternal grandparents

On Friday, my mom, Jim, and I drove to spend the day with my grandparents in Barlow. They haven't been doing so well, so any time I'm in Ohio, I try my best to get out and visit with them for the day. On the way up, we stopped at the Village Bakery in Athens, which sadly I never patronized while living in Athens. Totally hippie-dippie and very much my style. They had absolutely some of the best brown bread I've ever had the pleasure of eating. Despite the rain, we got my grandfather to leave the farm and take a look at Linda and Ted's new house in Fleming.

3. Ride

I went and rode with the Team Hungry guys on Thursday, which absolutely just kicked my ass. It was a good ride through the hills of Kentucky that was made especially painful because Scott and Mike Chewning, who are pretty much Cat. 2s, were pushing the pace. I fell apart near the end -- rare that that happens. The weather was beautiful, sunny with some good wind from the east. After riding, we all rode over to forkheartknife for a feast and a few beers. I got home about 11:30, exhausted and with a still-full belly. The best kind of ride.

On Saturday I did an hour of hill repeats in the pouring rain around Mt. Storm. Because of the weather Sunday (lousy) and because I was so tired from working on the car Saturday afternoon, I went for a mild cruise around Northside. A short, lazy ride and I was back in 45 minutes. That's all I wanted and needed.

4. Plan some wedding action

Allison and I are going to get hitched this fall. On Sunday we had a brunch at my dad's to plan things out with Allison's folks, my dad and stepmom, and my mom. I'm really nervous about any difficulties between my mom and dad, but hey, that's how it goes sometimes.

5. Passover

The best of the Jewish holidays. We ate, drank grape juice, and laughed all night. Afterward, we went to see James Leg at the Northside Tavern. They were great, as always. I do miss the Black Diamond Heavies, though.