"There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it." - Denis Diderot

That was the toughest bike ride I've done in a very long time. I only did 19 miles but even leaving at 6:30 meant temps in the mid-90's, and a significant wind made it worse.

I listened to NPR's Weekend Edition while I rode and heard a story about a new tribute CD with famous artists doing Buddy Holly songs. That got me to thinking about road music for my 24 hour drive from here to Seattle. One of the gals at church gave me a CD to listen to - no idea what it is yet - but if there's a separate "road music" genre Buddy Holly's music has to be near its top. Which made me think about buying this new CD from iTunes before I go. I checked, and it's not available there yet. But then I thought, why buy a Buddy Holly tribute album when I can buy the real thing? For $9.99! So I think I may splurge and get one of several "Best of Buddy Holly" CD's from iTunes.

What besides Buddy Holly belongs in that road music category? Accepting suggestions!

I also heard some sports columnist interviewed about the NBA lockout. He said it's going to make the NFL lockout look like child's play. He predicted there will be no pro basketball next year.

On Thursday I talked to Pat, the guy painting Ilsa's body. He'll be home tomorrow, so after church I'll drive out to Tonopah and check the progress. I'm eager to see how it's going. Pictures for sure in tomorrow night's post.

It is SO hot here (well into the triple-teens), which really limits how long I can work out in the garage on the chassis. One of the things all the experts say is, "when it starts getting the best of you, walk away!" I did that twice today - came inside, cooled off, had something to eat and settled the mind. I'm at the stage where everything I do is the first time I've done it. Today was bending metal brake lines using a tool designed for that purpose. The really tricky one goes from the master cylinder up by the front wheels, into and through the passenger compartment, and out through the rear firewall to a brass splitter. Lots of bends, some of them tight.
I'm also doing the rear brakes and axle seals. Messy and tricky. But knowing that Pat is doing a perfectionist's job on the body - that I'll have a near perfect shell - motivates me to insist on getting what's underneath spot-on correct.

I was hoping Michelle Bachmann was a serious, thoughtful and intelligent candidate. But as her campaign continues she makes really embarrassing gaffs, one after another. Confusing John Wayne the actor with John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer. John Quincy Adams as a founding father of our country (he was 9 years old in 1776). Saying that the President had released all the oil in the strategic reserves when he released about 4%. Or that the founding fathers opposed slavery (cf. Sally Hemmings). And on and on. When compared to Sarah Palin you could call her an intellectual. Put her on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" and no one would pick her for our next President.
Who will emerge as the Republican's qualified candidate? Who will emerge as the favorite? And will they be the same person? (I'm not optimistic.)

This time of year it's like I look out at a completely different congregation each week. The families who were there last week are out of town this week but others are back from their trips.

The NT text (Greek) includes a few words that are very important to understanding our Christian experience but too often their meaning gets all garbled when they're translated into English. We come to one of those tomorrow - peirasmos. "Lead us not into temptation" does not communicate what the text says. Gotta fix this.