History of Cooking

The history of cooking is much shorter. My Dad liked to cook on the weekends. Mom cooked because she had to. Mom was a great cook but I must say I don't think it was something she got much enjoyment from. Cooking for 8 (eight) people 7 days a week has to be taxing. I love to cook but it would lose its luster if I HAD to do it.

Dad would make different things and ask for help to chop, clean, etc. I loved helping in the kitchen when Dad was cooking. As I think back I realize Mom was home cooking while we (the kids) were at school, practice or just out running around the neighbohood. Dad cooked on the weekends when things were more relaxed.

I learned my way around the kitchen because I like to eat. In high school I played sports year round and had an appetite typical of any groing 14, 15, 16, 17 year old boy. The kitchen became familiar. Learn how to make something then adapt it to how you want it to taste....that's cooking! Cooking is mechanical and creative all in one. It's like being a carpenter. You get to add your own touch to whatever you make.

My wife is responsible for my success in being more creative. She praises my efforts and keeps me moving forward.

Jay says ..........more later........

A life of bicycles

In 1979 I saw an ad for a job in a BICYCLE SHOP. It was to be a summer job while home from school. It turned out to be my future, even to this day. I have either worked in or owned a bicycle shop since. Except for the year I built commercial greenhouses somewhere in there.



That is the history.

More bike stuff

Once I saw the possibilities of a bicycle I was hooked. I saw bikes with gears!!! man I thought I could really make something like that go. So now I'm dreaming of 10 speeds, drop bars, shifters, hand brakes, wow! I had no idea what real bicycles were all about.

Around this time, I'm guessing 1969-70, (I'm 12-13 years old) a bicycle shop opened within riding distance of my house. I saw bikes with tiny little gear clusters??? skinny seats, I knew I would have one sooner or later. They were just plain exciting. Getting one would be tough. I am the oldest of 7 kids, we never went without but that much $$ for a bicycle was not even possible. I would like to say I got a paper route or started doing something extraordinary to earn $$$$ to buy a real bicycle, but I did not. It was back to JC Pennies to see what might be available. Sure enough there was bike called Itoh. Made in Japan, looked awesome, too much $$.
I made sure Mom and Dad knew all the details and reasons why I needed this real bicycle. My birthday was nearing, all I wanted was the Perfect Shade Of Yellow Japanese Itoh 10 Speed Bike from JC Pennies. What I got was a white JC Pennies 10 speed bike. I was thrilled. Within the week I completely disassembled the bicycle. I wanted to know how everthing worked. I found out. It was a great succcess. I only messed up one, in my mind, very minor piece. The bike shop needed to order the part, so I went home and waited. Once the part came in and I fixed my bike I was ready to go. I carried all the tools around in a canvas shoulder bag so I could fix anything I might have trouble with.

I rode the White JC Penny Bicycle until around 1973. There are more bike stories for another time. Rides to places my parents didn't know about, rides to play basketball, rides to places just to ride!!

Once I turned 16 I left my bike behind for a long time.

VERY BIG BICYCLE GAP HERE. Jay says, More later....................

Mattz bike history

Learned to ride a bicycle around 5 years old. As I recall it was a girls bike from the family living behind us across the alley. I had to push it up the sidewalk to a fire hydrant at the corner to get on, it was tall for me but did not have a top tube to contend with.

The next bike came at Christmas around 6 years old. Cool bike with a removable top tube so it could be for a boy or girl. Crashed it pretty early on and bent it enough so the removable top tube would not stay in place. Back to riding a "girls" bike. I must have ridden it a long while because the next memorable bike was a 26" Murray bike with fenders and coaster brake. Black red and chrome way cool! At some point I was given a Varoom motor made by Mattel Toys. Not an actual motor but a plastic, battery powered noise maker which looked and souned like a motorcycle engine. Wore it completely out. This bike was transformed into a giant "Sting Ray" with the $$ help of my Dad and Mom. What I mean is I REALLY wanted a Scwhinn Sting Ray, way too much $$ but was willing to settle for a JC Pennies something or other that looked like a Schwinn. What I ended up with was a pair of high rise handlebars and a huge banana seat to add to my 26" wheel Murray. The chain guard, fenders, reflectors and anything else not essential to my bike were removed and permanently discarded. Cool bike and the start of my bicycle mechanicing(?). Did all the work by myself.

I rode and loved this bike a long time. My first bike club adventure came sometime in here. We went to a Catholic church within walking (bike riding) distance of home. There was a priest from Ireland who was into riding bikes. He started a riding club leaving from the school/church/ rectory/convent parking lot early on Saturday. I would show up on my big sting ray and marvel at the bikes. I told my parents I wanted to join. They said OK, the priest in charge said I was too youg. Mom or Dad convinced them I could do it. It was worked out and I had several outings with Hearts Wheelers!! Big stuff for an 11 year old.

As Jay would say...........more later.

None

Been a cyclist for 30 years. That's bicycles , nothing motorized. Been married 28 years and feel fortunate. Cooking, eating, biking, hiking, camping, paddling, and hanging out with my large family are what I do, so that's what I am going to write about.

In the words of a goooood friend more later................mattz

This is a trial to try to figure out how it works. Never blogged but am going to.