First Winter with alternative fuels

Well hopefully we are headed to Spring here soon. Only 20 some days until springs appears on the calendar. We have went through the winter with alternative fuels for the first time. This year we burned corn for heat in our cornburner and the only natural gas we used was to heat water.

The first thing I noticed was a constant heat source. Because the corn burns constantly there is no rise or fall of the temperature as the forced air furnace shuts down and waits for the temperature to drop enough so the thermostat clicks on.

Our heat bills last year were around $250.00 to $280.00. Since the cornburner our highest bill was $36.00 for the water heater. To sum it up. We probably would not go back. If for any other reason the house temp was kept much warmer than the previous years and I like the heat.

Let's talk vacations

Last month I was in Arizona Leading the Converge USA Assessment center. You might call it a work trip. However one afternoon while the rest of the team was working I slipped out for a couple of hours adventure. It was 35 degrees below zero in Iowa and that day in Arizona it was sunny and 72 beautiful warm degrees. So someone had to enjoy the outdoors and I knew it would not be my family back home in Iowa. So I sacrificed and down the road I went. My first stop was at a bike shop called Cactus Bike. If you have seen one bike shop maybe you have seen them all. I mean after all. All they have are bikes, grease and parts. But it is not the bikes that draws me there but rather the adventure of a possible vacation. As I said 35 below at home or 72 and gorgeous in Arizona. Where would you rather ride? I talked with the shop guys about the usual bike talk then switched to where do you ride? The thoughts of the desert and bikes is a trip I am hoping to make sometime. I know its a desert! Yep, that's what attracts me. In my mind I absolutely love the desert. Dry, sunny and more dry. They explained some of the rides that were taking place such as the Bark at the Moon ride. The Cactus Hugger festival. Sounds great right? Well. There just seems to be so much going on lately that I had to settle for some dreaming of riding the desert. So I walked out of the store Dreams in hand and a book to plan, scheme and dream. Someday in the future. The desert, my bike and oh yea my best friend. My wife. I will let you know when it happens but for now it's starting to warm up here. I can't wait to be active, outdoors and feeling the sun again.

A Little Bit Of Listerine...

Here is a midweek laugh. This is worth the time.