More Bike Commute Reports

Friday 20 Aug 10 - IN - Parked near Hanrahan Park and rode up the North Shore Trail spur to the trail. I rode in to work the same route I would ride home so I could see how long it might take. If I can keep the homeward route down to about 45 min and the car part under 5 then I'll be fine. I rode kind of easy and I barely could find my way through the park and up the spur. I'm sure that will be faster in the light.

HOME - I looked up from work and saw that it was already after 2. I scrambled and got out the door at 14:18. I rode as hard as I could. I had never gotten home faster than I had gotten to work, but I managed to make it back to the van in 37 minutes, a full 4 minutes faster than I got to work from the car (in the morning I actually didn't know where I was going and had to double back a bit, but never before did that matter). I took Brice down to the van, and the way to work I took the trail spur. The trail spur seems okay in the morning because it's more open and light, but in the afternoon it will be too exposed to the sun. I noticed a big windmill behind Cluver's today and a big log in the river that I never saw before. It took 7 minutes to get home once I got back in the car. Combined I took 44 minutes to get home. That is the best time I've ever had getting home so far, but I don't think it's sustainable. I think this route is sustainable at 50 min. That will be okay if I leave work at 14:00.
 
Monday 23 Aug 10
IN - I tried to park coloser to the end of the spur, but the is no parking on village streets 6:00am-2:00pm anywhere in Libertyville. That's a big drag. Since I went over there looking and had to come back, I was late getting started. Both my long range flashlights went out so I had to use just the LED one. That one sprays light around so I can't see at all unless I put my hand over the top of it. My first priority today is to get a good flashlight as a headlight (I'll get two if they're cheap and only use the LED one as backup. It was very cool this morning. I saw the same guy on Atkinson that I saw on Friday. I actually saw him before I got out of the car in Mundelein or Libertyville. I'll have to ask him where he's coming from if I see him again. He completely blew off the stop sigh on Atkinson, but he pulled over to the side to let a car pass as we were coming down off the hill. I followed him into Abbott Park and he actually used his ID to get the gate to open. He stopped once he was in and as I passed he smiled and said good morning.


HOME - I tried to get out on time, but people kept talking to me. I took a more scenic route because the time wasn't as critical (MAL was home sick). I took the Des Plaines River Trail and later took the North Shore spur. The spur got me around the construction and I wanted to check out another parking spot that would avoid the construction. The other parking spot wouldn't work because it's a no parking, school area. It took me 8 minutes to get home in the car for a total home trip of 48 min, still better than anything without the car. I noticed grasses growing on the older storage building (like behind Culvers) I wonder if that's a green roof.

Tue 24-Aug-10 Have to take the bike in to get the brakes adjusted. Yesterday they had gotten so soft that I almost missed a walk button, had a hard time stopping at stop signs and nearly ran into that other bike guy in the morning. It had been getting bad for a while (especially after that big rain) but not it has me worried, and I'm overdue for the one month tightening up. The gears seem to be slipping less, but they still do.


Thu 26-Aug-10
IN - Hooray, I'm back on my bike today. There is a clicking that was very seldom now, I couldn't really get it to do it at the shop, but is pretty common now. It has to be something in the bike because I can feel it in my feet as well as hear it. I'm really hoping it's nothing serious. The sky was absolutely clear this morning and the moon was almost full, very pretty. I parked near Hanrahan and left the house at 4:48. I got into the park on the bike at 4:57 but I rode most of the way on the roads, making up time. It ended up slower in total than other mornings (45min door to door today vs 40, 42 and other 45) but mornings are not what counts. I didn't catch my biking "friend" until we were both in Abbott Park, just past AP32. Very cold this morning at 58o when I checked it on the web.

HOME - I actually beat SEL today! She caught traffic and I got out the door 5 minutes earlier than I had been. I left the office at 14:13 and got to the van at 14:50 (37 minutes, pretty good), then I got home at 2 minutes to three (total going home time 45 minutes). I took the spur so I could avoid construction, but I think next week construction may be over in that Dalton-Brice area. I think riding on the street will be faster. The spur isn't too bad when it's cool and it was about 78o or so. It is slow because of the turns.

Fri 27-Aug-10
IN - WOW! This was my fastest ever coming in time. I rode all the way from home and I beat some of my riding from the van times (although two of them were on the trail not the street because I was testing the time for going home). I figured because the HS girls are off today and I can afford to be late if I have to be. I don't think I will though. My fastest going home time with the van is 45 minutes and my fastest without is 50 minutes. If I leave at 14:00 I'll make it in plenty of time. 60o this morning. I was very snotty, but I like the cool temps much better, they might be helping me go faster.

HOME - Nothing much to report today. I got caught by both Milwaukee and Butterfield lights. I rode as hard and fast as I could. This was the fastest ride door to door, but it's still a minute slower than the slowest door to door using the van. I guess the parking the van at Hanrahan park is the best chance for me to get home before Sophie. I did see a girl sunbathing just off the trail about one block past Butterfield. I didn't see her until I had passed her because I was pedaling hard as I had just crossed the street. She was laying on her front in a pink flowered bikini.

Mon 30-Aug-10 Tore up my heels something fierce in the Rugby match Saturday so I'll have to stay off the bike for at least today. I brought my clothes in.

Fri 3-Sep-10
IN - Tied the record (38min), and I wasn't even pedaling hard. MAL is working from home today so I could ride the whole way. I think it was a combination of cool weather (61o) and I spent absolutely no time on the trail. 176 has been recently paved the whole way and it is really smooth and fast. I spent nearly the whole time in 3-7. I'm not sure if my legs are really that much stronger or used to riding than they were when I started so I don't know if that contributed to it as well. It had been raining heavily when I went to bed, but the morning was so clear that I could see not only Orion's belt but his sword as well. I definitely need a new light. I could hardly see at all and it was dark the whole way in. I ordered two flashlights yesterday. I also think a billed cap would be useful to keep on-coming headlights out of my eyes.

HOME - Big headwind and I wasn't going for speed (59 min). I went past Minear Lake. It was only about 70o but because of the wind I still got warm enough to sweat. The bike is making the ratchety clicking sound every time I press down on the left pedal.

Sat 4-Sep-10 Took bike in to shop. He said it is the bottom bracket and he'll have to replace it. It's still under warrantee. I also had him lower the handlebars so I can avoid the wind a bit.

New Romisen Flashlight (above w/ extension in)

Thu 9-Sep-10
IN - New flashlight worked like a dream. I don't even know why I would need a second one. It's the Rominson. It doesn't fit a single battery or do 2 modes as advertized, but with 2 AAs it was like a motorcycle headlight. I spent more time paying attention to my equipment and didn't really notice anything on the ground except I went through some fog this morning. It was really pretty cold (50o). A car didn't stop on Atkinson as I was coming out of Fox Run and crossing over to the bike trail. I was stopped and he slowed down, but didn't stop at all to give me the right of way to cross to the trail. I yelled at him. Took me 44min total to get in which is pretty slow. I wasn't pushing it, but I did catch all the lights. I had to stop once because my nose was running so bad. I'm going to have to keep my handkerchief in my pocket and probably bring a spare.

HOME - Went to the ADD picnic for a few minutes behind AP32, so my times are based on that, slightly less that the real total times. It was still very cool on the way home. Although the ride seems to be smoother and less difficult, I seem to have slowed down (30 min bike plus 10 min car). I was thinking that I don't see much when I saw two guys rustling around in the bushes along the Trail. I asked them what they were gathering, suspecting it was grapes and they confirmed that. The man I talked to had a soiled, heavy winter coat and about three teeth. He tried to explain to me about how healthy grapes are, but I hadn't stopped to ask him and I didn't stop to listen. There are grape vines growing among the bushes almost all along the trail.

Fri 10-Sep-10
IN - Since the HS girls have half a day I decided to ride all the way today. Near the monistary I saw something to my left and when a car passed me I heard a crash as the deer ran off into the woods. I never realized just how loud they can be. ALL the lights were in my favor today and I definetely know how to trip the Abbott light sensors (cross the sensor with my back tire and turn the front tire so that it is on the sensor, following the curve), but I was still pretty slow. My nose runs a lot when it's this cold 50o. I'm going to have to figure out a way to wipe it without stopping. I tried today, but I couldn't do it with my handkerchief. I ended up stopping. It was actually the only time I did stop. Now that I've lowered my handlebars and when I ride that long my hands get numb. I may need gloves to help with that. They would also help with the sweating and changing grears when it's hot. I'll put it on my wish list.

HOME - Went pretty fast (47 min door to door) and I beat Sophia home since I actually left on time. I almost laid the bike on the ground coming off the trail onto the sidewalk at Milwaukee. I tried to make the turn mostly by leaning and the crushed gravel of the trail slipped. I put one foot down and popped back up.

Wed 15-Sep-10
IN - Took all streets, Brice up to Hawley, then St. Mary's up to Atkinson, and not bike trail on Atkinson. I rode through Abbott Park. I know I left the house in the van at 4:37 and I got to work at 5:13, but I'm not sure how quickly I got to riding the bike. I can't imagine it was faster than 8 min, which makes today the fastest ever ride in. It was mostly clear and warmer than last week. Because I rode only on the streets I didn't notice any leaves, but last week I had heard some crickety-crunch sounds which I at first thought were the gears clicking again, but in retrospect I think they were the first of the fallen leaves. I saw five American flags on poles along St. Mary's just south of MacArthur "road." I'd never noticed them before. Found out today that 176 has sensors at Butterfield. I tried to ride across as a vehicle, but I was no where near the sensors and I had to wait for someone to trip them.

HOME - I got stopped by the light crossing Waukegan at Atkinson. There were no cars going my way so I couldn't go at all, couldn't trip the sensors. I think I'll have to go through the Park to avoid that light because it can really slow me down. I then got stopped by a train crossing Atkinson. Went through the Greenbriar subdivision. Once I got on St. Mary's road I saw a crowbar along the shoulder. I'll have to keep my eyes open. When I got to the car, because I was trying to go fast I came down the hill very fast and slammed on the brakes. I fishtailed a bit and when I went to put my foot down on the right I didn't put it down flat, but caught the edge of my shoe and rolled it. Fortunately I didn't put any weight on it, but had to hope off the bike and nearly dropped it. It all worked out though. The ride to the van took 38 minutes, which is pretty slow considering the 28 minute ride from the van.

Thu 16-Sep-10
IN - I woke up at 1:30 and it was raining. I decided not to ride. Then when I woke up at 3:30 I hit the snooze (unfortunately a 9 min one) so when I woke up at 3:39 I saw that not only was it not raining, the ground had dried. It was still cloudy, but some of the stars were shining through. I got a late start and my legs felt really heavy. I packed in case it started raining on the trip and so when I was done I had to dig my phone out of my bag. It took 38 min riding, 4 min slower than yesterday, even though today I caught all the lights and took the exact same route. I wonder if my riding will get more predictable as far as time goes, the longer I do it. Anna Clausen showed me the bike she wants to buy (I'm pretty sure she said it was 52, as in $5,200). I showed her my bike and the new light. She lifted the front fork and gasped at how much it weighed, which is funny since there is so much weight on the back that it causes the front to be lighter.

HOME - WNW headwind all the whole way, really sapped my strength, but I managed to make it to the van in 37 min (min faster than yesterday). I noticed that the big industrial windmill points it's nose at the wind with the blades trailing. I also noticed the river a bit higher. The sky was threatening so I had a double race to run, beat Sophie (which I lost) and beat the rain (which I won, but it didn't rain). I put the lights all on because it was so dark.

Fri 17-Sep-10
IN - Colder today so my nose was running like a faucet, had to use my extra handkerchief a lot. Got caught by a couple of lights and felt really tired again. The biggest problems were, first my batteries ran out on my big flashlight and I had to replace them about Milwaukee, then there was a dragging and a flapping sound on St. Mary's just south of Atkinson. I stopped and I think the left bag was just rubbing the spokes. I shifted it, but it seems to do it each time I hit a bump. I'll have to figure something out for the trip home, and then something more permanent. The flashlight batteries lasted about 4 1/2 trips (3 mornings, 1 afternoon and half a morning). That's about what I was hoping for and I'm very happy with it.

HOME - Turned out that the board I put in my computer bag broke. I remounted it and it rode very well. There was a SSW wind that slowed me a tiny bit. I saw quite a few walkers, but no riders. I did see one bike at Milwaukee just standing on the sidewalk with no rider in sight.

Sat 18-Sep-10 Got my Tank007 flashlight today. I'll mount it Monday probably. It's much brighter than the other one, think that's because its on high. I can change modes (there seem to be 5), but I'm not sure how to control when they change. It gets warm on high very quickly. I don't know if the heat won't turn it off mid-ride and I don't know how long the batteries will last.

Orange and Blue Kool-Aid Time

I suppose a lot of people stumble upon this site (or google upon it) looking for Fighting Illini content. Up until now all those people went away with nothing. I say, "up until now" because from now on I'm going to have some Illini content.


I realized, after an abysmal preseason, that my beloved Bears were going to disappoint me this year, and maybe even match last year when they failed to retool the entire coaching staff. They proved me right yesterday by doing everything they possibly could to lose that game. I guess Detroit is just better at losing than the Bears.

I bleed orange and blue, from when I was a youngster hoping to run like Walter. When I attended the University of Illinois I managed to make only one football game because I was always playing Rugby on Saturdays. After school I could never find the Illini on TV in the Chicago area, I could never find them on the radio either. College football baffled me any way with 10,000 schools and 176 conferences.

I wanted to follow the Illini, don't get me wrong, it was just too difficult. This year I found the Big 10 Network is FREE on my Dish subscription, and WIND AM560 carries the games.

I saw, and heard my first game last Saturday. Oh my. I know it was SIU and not another Big 10 team, but the sights, the Marching Illini, the end zones emblazoned in orange, Block I, the history, the memories. Why had I not tried to do this earlier? Why had I not gone to basketball games when I was at school?

I'm embarrassed that I don't know the words to Oskee Wow Wow, that I don't really know the traditions of the Chief, that I learned the Illinois Loyalty song only while deployed in Afghanistan (in 2004-2005 when they were Number 1 for most of the season). I can't go back and fix that, but I will share my experiences of this season with you if you'd like.

One time while we are being rocketed in Afghanistan I was in a bunker with the DIVARTY Command Sergeant Major. He was from the 25 Infantry Division out of Hawaii, and hadn't been in country long. I had been in Afghanistan for six months by then and these attacks were old hat. I was on the radio working on part of the defense of the base, being the Base Operations Commander, and he seemed to notice our unit's call sign for the first time.

"Illini? That's hard to say. You know, you should be Bobcat, or Badger, something easy to say."

I looked at him square in the eye and said, "We're Illini, Sergeant Major."

Bike Commute, the Next Week

Monday, 9 Aug 10 IN TO WORK - Saw lightning from my window, but it was only in the clouds, the ground was dry and I couldn't hear any thunder, I decided to go for it. It started raining before I got to Seymour. It rained very hard the whole way. By the time I got to the trail the lightning was very bright and frequent, after Butterfield I decided it was too dangerous (being under trees and power lines) to stay on the trail so I moved to Hawley. I tried to ride on the street, but it wasn't paved yet and the street was filled with water. I moved to the sidewalk, but that wasn't draining right either. I moved back to the street at about the self storage store (right before Culvers). That was better and there was no traffic. The back gates were closed (have to find out when they open) so I had to ride to Rte 43 and finish there.

I counted the following:
3 stop signs in Cambridge Country
10 stop signs along the road and I estimate
3 in Abbott Park.

My count may be off because I spent some of the time on Hawley and never made it into AP.

I counted:
9 lights and
3 RR crossings.

HOME - Not anything remarkable. Times were very much estimates

Tuesday, 10 Aug 10
IN TO WORK - Went for speed today. I rode in on Hawley to the Trail. Then at Butterfield I went back to Hawley. I rode up St. Mary's. I caught all the lights.

HOME - Went down Waukegan Rd to Atkinson, then to Oak Spring Rd (it had a roadside bike trail that goes right past the beach at Minear Lake). I took side streets down to Hawley just before Milwaukee, then Hawley to Milwaukee and back to the trail. I synced with a slightly older couple who were riding my way. The guy had a road bike, but the woman had a mountain bike. I had a hard time keeping up with them and she didn't look like she was putting in anywhere near the effort I was. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I didn't have my computer with me. Took the Carmel parking lot to McAllister to Brice to Countryside (it's under construction, but I rode through the gravel/dirt) to Prospect. I was pedaling hard the whole way and still I could only get it down to 50 min. I had studied the maps and this is the shortest/fastest way short of riding the whole way on the big streets. Must find a better way to get home to the daughter.

Wednesday, 11 Aug 10
IN TO WORK - Got caught by a train near Seymour, then again almost on Atkinson (the train cleared the road before I got there off the hill). I took Hawley - Trail - Butterfield - Hawley - St.Mary's - Atkinson - Waukegan. Not all the lights were in my favor so I didn't repeat my time. The driveway in to the condos also links to the Abbott driveway so I don't have to ride the last few hundred feet on the street.

HOME - Tried a new route that I got off the map, but one of the streets turned out to be gravel then a two track and then it was completely overgrown. The route is supposed to be 9.3 miles and they estimate 48 minutes. Even though I blew off almost all the stop signs I had a 7mph wind out of the WSW and it took me 56 minutes. I get more tired as the week goes on. I don't know if I can keep it up, but I certainly can't rely on being able to make it home in time for Sophia. I'm going to have to drive half way and ride the rest.

Thursday, 12 Aug 10
IN TO WORK - I didn't feel very strong and didn't think I was going very fast. I got a late start because I slept late because I went to bed late. I basically took the same route as yesterday, but I didn't get caught by a train. There is a display speedometer on Hawley and it showed I was going 14mph. Made good time though.

HOME - I thought I'd be tired and didn't think I had to hurry so I took it easy. It seemed easier than yesterday. I didn't get stopped by anything unusual and took the same route as yesterday (with less effort) and got home 4 min earlier.

Friday the 13th
Wanted to try driving part way in, but I had too much to do today and wanted to get the daughter as early as possible so I drove all the way.

I worked from home Monday and Tuesday so no ride. I did drive the route to look for a place to park. The trail is about a third of the way (3 miles), but it's right near Carmel HS and so no parking. Half way is right near Libertyville HS and no parking there either. I might have to re-think the idea of driving part way.

ARGH, Curse you weatherman!!!

It didn't thunderstorm like they said it would, in fact it only got moderately damp.  It was completely dry on the way in and sunny on the way home.  It wasn't even partially cloudy.

I could've ridden my bike in today.  Now I have meeting on top of meeting in different buildings on Thursday.  If today's promised rain shows up tomorrow it's looking like this has gone from a five day bike commute week to a one day.

CURSE YOU WEATHERMAN!

Bike Thwarted

I did not ride in to work today because the report is for thunderstorms, heavy thunderstorms and severe thunderstorms all day. I'm not worried about me, per se, I'm worried about my computer, so I played it safe.


After coming home from our soirée in Michigan I was raring to ride. I had been anxious to ride into work the whole time I was gone.

In the packing (or maybe it was the unpacking) for the trip I had found a pair of identical black, canvas briefcases and I made a pair of panniers out of them.

When I say I had "made" them into panniers, what I mean is I stuck some cardboard in them, and hooked them to my rack by the handles, drink bottle d-rings and bungee cords. The system was completely untested on Monday morning last week, and I shied away from testing it on the commute. Instead I fretted over the configuration and drove a week's worth of work clothes in by car.

I did ride in on Tuesday last week and I decided that I needed to see or experience something new on each commute. I didn’t want for it to become too routine and for me to become jaded. In addition to having the new panniers (which worked very well) I saw a pair of foxes on the trip home.

I rode in again on Wednesday. On the way in it was rather quiet, but on the way home it turned out to be a very eventful return commute. There is a big display on the campus of work that shows you how fast you're going (to discourage exceeding the campus speed limit of 20mph). I had gone past it before at 17mph. For fun I tried to go past it above the speed limit, and succeeded at 21mph. Ironically, about five minutes after I had left campus (on a city street) I saw someone get a ticket for speeding. I went past them and made it too the light, and my turn far ahead of the speeder. I felt triumphant.

It had been raining all the previous weekend very heavily. There were still flood warnings for the Fox River, so I checked out the Des Plaines River trail to see if it were dry. The lowest part that I need to travel is where it passes under the bridge at Hawley, so I rode the hundred meters or so to see if it were clear and it was. I tested a new route (on which I got lost a bit) going through Carmel High School's parking lot and around to McKinley.

On Thursday I rode in again. I thought I was getting into a good pattern and rhythm. I tried a slightly different route in to work, taking Atwood to Hawley, and riding on street down Hawley. I saw tire tracks on the bike trail under power lines, saw Cthulhu looking clouds that looked like they opened its eyes, Along the River trail I heard frogs, and saw sparks on the power line on Atkinson. I tried going around the work campus the opposite way I had before. I didn't think it was really any faster.

Again the way home proved even more eventful. The chain slipped off rear gears going into 7th almost at Carmel. I had to lay the bike down and struggled with it for quite a bit. Eventually I fixed it and went gentle the rest of the way home. I took the Carmel parking lot again, fumbled a bit with figuring out how to get home. There is construction and they tore up several blocks of street in that neighborhood. I tried several different routes to get past the construction before finally finding my way.

I didn’t ride in on Friday, in fact I didn't even go in to work, I worked from home. My youngest daughter had to be home alone so I stayed home.

I had to work Saturday, but since my wife wasn't feeling well and we had a big family party to go to as soon as I was done at work, I drove in. But, knowing that I had only bike commuted three days I was determined to do more this week. I brought all my work clothes and other supplies on Saturday.

Yesterday I was ready to finally ride in for five out of five days. I left early enough to see stars. Along the River trail the part under the bridge was dry but almost to the canoe launch I ran into a BIG Mud puddle. I saw that the trail itself was flooded. The water had come up from the right side so I decided to try to go around on the grassy left side. Now, remember this was about 5:00 in the morning so it was still quite dark. It turned out that the ground was saturated all along that side too. I ended up to the reflectors on the wheels and barely made it through.

On the way home I went for speed, didn't do River trail in case it was still flooded. I actually did NOT make any wrong turns along any of my route. Still it took me 55 minutes to get home.

It doesn't look like this week will be a full week of riding though. We looked at our calendars and I'm going to have to bring my daughter to work on Friday. She's not really riding yet and could never make the nearly 10 mile route anyway, so I'll have to drive.

Now today, as I said before I was thwarted by threatening weather. How does that song go, "I've seen fire and I've seen rain?" Well, I didn't see the rain coming in, but I sure hope it's a duesey, or I'll feel terrible for not riding.  I did see the lightning though.

Trial by Fire

I commuted to work again Thursday and Friday. Thursday wasn't forecast for rain, but rain it did, on me, and more frighteningly, on my computer, my phone and my wallet. Friday my pedal fell off.

So, as you might have guessed, I've committed to commuting to work. Mrs. Prop forbad me from using the old bike and as I insisted on riding she acquiesced to the purchase of a new one.

I found a dealer having a sale, and a Giant Sedona (Aluminum) on sale. I haggled a bit and got it with the fenders and rack thrown in for under $350, a steal. I paid for it Tuesday, he put the parts on and I picked it up on Wednesday.

I tried several different arrangements, but I ended up carrying my stuff in an Army ruck sack bungeed to the top of the rack. I carry: change of clothes, towel (yes, I know where mine is), wash up stuff, shoes; file folders and my laptop (in a lightly padded sleeve, in the ruck). I guess-timate it weighs about 15-20lbs.

I also purchased a set of front and rear lights (little led $15 cheapy set) and a bell.

Getting back to my trial, my test, my odyssey. On Thursday I awoke to overcast skies. That was expected. There were drops of rain on the house windows, but the pavement was dry.

As I rode there were sprinkles, smatterings really. Mostly I got wet when the trees dripped on my or I hit a low hanging branch, until I was almost within sight of work. I have to cross the Illinois Tollway on a high bridge and I was on the far side when the sky opened up. I pedaled as hard as I could, up the hill, down, onto and around half the campus of work, across the street and into my building. I was dripping.

As soon as I got to my cubicle I unpacked my laptop, dry. I remembered my phone, hanging in its open holster on my belt. Dry. Apparently it had been in my lee at the small of my back and though my shirt, shorts, socks and shoes were soaked, everything in my bag was dry.

Ok, so I was planning on wearing the same shorts home. I called Mrs. Prop, told her I was ok, and asked her to bring a pair of shorts. I washed up and changed. No one at work had any idea I hadn't driven in.

By the end of work my shorts were as dry as moist, maybe damp (whichever you consider drier) and more importantly they were cool. I decided to put them on and enjoy the free air conditioning, as the day had turned sunny and hot (upper 80s). The trip home was uneventful.

Half way in on Friday my left heel started touching something. I looked down to see that I was brushing the frame. That was strange since I hadn't touched it the day before. When I reached the campus of work the pedal felt funny underfoot. I figured it must be loose, but I couldn't tighten it until I rode another five minutes and got to my desk.

When I got in and pulled out the crescent wrench the pedal flat just spun. The threads were stripped.

I called the shop and they said they would replace the crank, but I would have to leave it all night. My wife and any other rides weren't available so I would have to ride home, but since the crank was going to be replaced anyway I couldn't damage it anymore. I was still under warrantee (I should hope so after only two days).

The pedal was still hanging on, by a thread. Before I had gotten off campus it was so loose that I set the bike down and tried to shim the thing with duct tape. The threads just tore up the tape, but it did seem to catch the last remaining crank threads at the very limit of the pedal threads. I thought it just might hold.

I was wrong.

I pedaled out the gate and the pedal fell off. I picked it up, walked the bike up the hill over the Tollway and coasted down the other side.

The route is 9 miles, but I had found a new leg to it. I had had to travel about half a mile on St. Mary's Road, notorious for killing cyclists (no actually, I have heard that several cyclists have died on that stretch of road). I wanted to avoid that if I could so I found a leg of the Des Plaines River Trail that crosses Oak Spring Road. All I would have to do is take a dogleg of about a half block on St. Mary's to get from Atkinson Road (just off campus) to Oak Spring.

It worked like a dream (given that I only had one pedal). The new route is quiet, cool and scenic.

I managed to pedal on the left side by pushing on the crank with the toe of my shoe. I was as gentle as I could be on the right side.

Before I got to Milwaukee my left shoelace got caught on my crank. It gave me an idea. I stopped and tried to tie my shoe to the hole in the crank. I couldn’t get my shoe back on and I realized it would twist and tighten as I pedaled. In two turns I would cut off all circulation to my foot. I untied it.

When I got to Milwaukee I stopped in to a gas station to ask for duct tape. I figured that I could tape the pedal back on. It wouldn't spin that way, but I'd be able to get a better purchase to push against.

They didn't have any; back on the trail again.

At Butterfield I asked in at another gas station. "Duck what?" the man said. He didn’t have any.

After that I met a Comcast guy putting in cable from his truck parked on the trail. At first I cursed under my breath, until I realized he might be able to help me. I asked for duct tape, he didn't have any. He did have tons of cable ties and was very willing to help once he found out my predicament. We put several on to keep the pedal on and off I went.

It didn't work. It was actually worse. I had gotten into a rhythm and was able to rotate my foot on the end of the crank, but with the pedal on there I had to lift my foot off at each turn. It was like holding my foot up for miles. Not only that, but a few turns after I put them on, the cable ties began to stretch and loosen.

By the time I reached Mundelein the cable ties had broken altogether and the pedal fell off. I was grateful at that point.

I pedaled the last of the way home. It took me 1.5 hours, only 40 minutes more than usual and on Friday I stopped several time. Not too bad, and it averaged to 6 mph, or 10 minute miles. That's about 50% faster than walking would have been, and I could never have been able to run that far at that pace.

Still, I made it home too late to take the bike in. I'll take it in today, but I'm undaunted. I will persevere (though Mrs. Prop doesn't want me to or is dubious at best). How bad could it get? It can only get better, right?

Touch of Reality - Bike Commuting

I rode my bike to work this last Wednesday. I rode it home too, that was the hard part.

You see, when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup I got kind of in the mood to skate. I had also just started an "exercise program" called 10K-A-Day that challenges you to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. I hate running so I figured in-line skating would be a good way to get my walking type exercise. Then as I was researching that I got the itch that I've had nagging me for over 10 years to get a new bike.

I discovered that I'm only (ha, only) 9 miles from work, AND there is a Bike Trail most of the way. Perfect. My commute would only go from 25 minutes to 47 minutes.

I had ridden to work before, back in the mid 90s when I worked for Motorola. Back then I was only 3 miles from work and it was actually faster to ride because I didn't have to find a parking spot.

There were two real problems with my commuting now: there is no shower at work (I sweat like a pig doing ANY activity); and my bike.

I bought my bike in 1990 in Georgia before I got married. I paid $99.99 back then. There are actually parts falling off of it now. It's a department store bike so no bike shop will touch it, to fix or upgrade. There is no rack, there are no lights.

I hemmed and hawed and pined over a new bike. I took my bike to work and tried the route from work out 15 minutes and back. It's a good route, but the bike didn't like it too much.

Finally, I decided that I needed to just do it. If my bike fell apart that would be all the more reason to get a new bike. I packed my stuff in a backpack bought some lights and set off. The ride in was pretty good, but on the way home the problems really made themselves known.

The rear tire seemed to get flatter and flatter. The bike started making even more noise than it usually did. I mean, not the usual rattle of the chain, which can never seem to find the gear, I mean a sort of moaning, groaning, struggling sound. The kind of sound that a dying animal would make if it were surrounded by its friends and family, but didn't want to worry them, but also couldn't keep all the pain in; that kind of sound.

It felt like the whole trip was up hill, and it took a good hour to get home, while the trip to work only took 47 minutes (as advertized on my GPS).

At this point I think Ole Blue has had it with commuting. There is a very good chance that it could collapse on the next trip, and by collapse I mean I wouldn't be surprised if the frame itself folded.

So now I'm wondering if I'll get another chance. We need a new computer, we have to pay off our home improvements, we have to pay for a bumper we scratched in a parking lot…

I need a beefy hybrid because of the roughness of the streets and the bike path, but I don't need (or want) a full on mountain bike. A new bike seems a long way off. I've looked into hand me downs, eBay, and Craig's List. They just aren't available now.

It was a good idea though. The environment, my health, traffic all would have improved. It was a good idea.

Day 7 – Seekretya – Recent History

The trouble is that the entire history of Seekretya is kind of recent.  It really got going as science and technology became prominent, so the history was pretty much covered under Scars on an earlier day.  I haven't really developed the political history of the interior of Seekretya yet, and I expect to as individual stories develop.  I will come back and record them here as appropriate.

Spend 15 minutes outlining the major historical events of the last 100 years before your novel begins.

1. Who lives where, and what wars and conflicts have they had?

-See the map (below) for who lives where

-The Dark Empire is made of seven small kingdoms, much like the German states before unification. Wars are very frequent and very limited by rules and the interrelationships of the combatants. There are no clear lines of succession; in fact it is encouraged for sons to compete for the father's holdings. Only one can win in the end. When first established each kingdom battled for supremacy (and the levels went from 1-7). These wars for hierarchy were much more bloody than the wars for succession, and eventually it was decided that all kingdoms would be equal under the Dragon Emperor and they asked the Dragons to be nominal head of the Empire. Now, sons who do not win their family's war of succession hire themselves out as mercenaries.

-The Confederation of Liit have vowed to never fight each other, but to band together against any attacks on the entire Confederation.



2. Who keeps the peace?

- Wizard system launched - When the magical Races started arriving in Seekretya there were only the Dragon Wizards and they did not regulate the actions of non-dragons. When the magical doors shut and were locked it became evident that some system had to be put into place. The Dragon Wizards were made Archwizards, and they commissioned Viswizards who in turn certified Common Wizards. All Wizards swear an oath, one of the main parts of which is to foster and facilitate inter-racial harmony.



3. How do borders stay in place?

-At first there were many wars among the social Races, but once the Wizard system was put into place each Race met and grabbed chunks Seekretya. There turned out to be enough to go around because it was only the Races organized enough to send representatives. Now the wars are mostly skirmishes between social Races and solitary Races, border raids between lands, or individual upstarts intent on Seekretya domination.



4. What happens when power shifts?

-The Wizards form a magical army to end any real threats to the balance, otherwise individual wizards work with the Races to keep the peace, making sure no Race tries to dominate after defending.



5. What major resources are considered necessary to staying in power?

-Magic ultimately, but the Graatrols believe that superior technology, weapons, and organization may take all, but they're not ready yet to take control.



6. Dates when power shifted in your civilization(s) (through coup, death of a monarch, revolution, election, etc.)

-I'll have to get back to you with specific dates, I don't think they are really important here and now.

7. Whether the power shift was smooth (as it might be when a monarch dies and their offspring takes their place)

-I've discussed the take over of the Wizards and the granting of Emperor status to the Dragons by the Graatrols of the Dark Empire.

8. Dates when a natural event reduced or increased the amount of natural resources (food, usually, but also water, timber, and other resources)

-The greatest of these was the creation of Seekretya itself, as described earlier.

9. Dates when an unnatural event (such as a magical or technological event) changed the resources as well.

10. At the high-pressure points, write "battle/conflict"

-Individual battles will be developed as the stories develop.

11. Date your novel begins

-This year.

12. Date your character was born

-I have not yet developed characters yet, I have some names, but characters come later in this process, so I'm really not sure why she talks about this here unless you're expected to go back, which I will.

Day 6.3 - Seekretya - Da Races - FAE FOLK

Fae, or Faeree Folk are the most numerous and perhaps the most dominant Race, with the possible exception of the Trools. It is difficult to say which Race is the most dominant for several reasons, not the least of which is the Faeree tendancy for inconsistent politics and policies; lack of coherient organization within the Race and shifts in power over time.

The Trools are less numerous, but individually more powerful, more single minded in purpose and more uniform in their desires. Fae are whimsical, but powerful; small but energetic; disparate but numerous. Fae and Trool do not always find themselves at odds with each other but certain Ethnogroups are mortal enemies. For instance, Dwarves and Stoontrools have been at war since the inception of Seekretya.

NOTE: I just realized that I have been spelling the name of the social big Race incorrectly. By my spelling convention that long vowels are designated by doubling the letter, the English word, "troll" should be spelled "trool." I've decided to keep the spelling that way, making the pronounciation of that word more like: trawl (with a short o).

Fae live in villages, cities, and roving bands. Fae live in trees, underground, in forests, and on planes. They pride themselves in diversity and purposely change their habits when they perceive that they have been, "figured out."

They are the oldest Race after the Dragons. They may actually be older than humans.

There are only three consistant things throughout the Fae Race, they are between half and one meter high; they are romantic and they are monogamous. Even Dwarvs, who are considered stoic among Faeree, love to sing and are romantic about their spouses and mining.

BLUUFAE
-All Fae are contrary, except the Bluufae. These are the water people. They are always in a good mood and willing to help. They love water and build their towns as bridges over rivers. They sail and row everywhere, and love to swim. They are also the ones who fly airships (blimps) and airboats (hot air balloons).

Airships are blimps with 3 to 5 bags fireproof bags of Dragonskin (sloughed from Dragons when molting) and filled with Dragon's Breath (probably Hydrogen). These are wrapped in a sleeve of silk and a wicker gondola in the shape of a sailing ship is hung underneath. The silk sleeves are often in paisleies. Several pedalers power several large propellers and a large silk rudder is in the stern from the keel of the boat to the end the sleeve. These are used predominantly by military as highground for archers and as passenger liners on the civilian side.

Airboats are usually hot air balloons, but they could be Dragon's Breath balloons too. They are usually one bladder, but they can be two. They too have a boat shaped gondola and usually two propellers powered by one pedaler. The usual way of steering is to use the balloon as a sail and the propeller as a kind of keel. The balloon is raised and lowered to get into the right winds. In still air it can be moved forward by the propellers, buit there is usually not enough power in them to counteract any real winds. They carry small, precious cargo or passengers. They can be used by the military as observation platforms.

Day 6.2.1 More About the Wee

Wee are also known for stealing the babies of other Races, swapping them with their own, leaving their own and making deals for babies (notably first borns).

NOTE: Particularly heinous inter-racial crimes have been greatly curtailed by the system of Viswizards and Common Wizards. Inter-racial cannibalism and baby stealing are two of the chief incidents.

Because of the control of the Wizards the Wee have delightfully expanded their old tradition of confusing contracts. They still try to get away with the old tricks, but unless they are in an actual contract they are breaking the laws and may be punished.

BROWNEES

- Brownees are a very particular group of Wee Folk. They have symbiotic relationships with big people. Brownees don't make their own homes or produce food, they live in the homes of others and keep the homes in exchange for a place to live (usually the attic or cellar) and food. They are very small and specialize in disappearing and making themselves invisible. They are also good at finding things and singing ballads and lullabies.

Brownees are attractive little people who keep themselves, their adopted homes and their own little corners very neat and tidy. They can be excellent cooks, but rarely do it because hovering over the stove is so obvious a chore and the don't like to be seen.

Brownees mate once a year, but once they are mated they always return to the same mate. They alternately travel to each others homes. The Brownee who is traveling will do so with explicit permission from the home owner or not at all. The receiving Brownee will prepare either the attic or cellar (whichever they are not occupying) for the visiting Brownee to occupy for the length of the visit.

When they get together they treat it as a courting ritual, but each day it ends in lovemaking, while all night they both clean and keep the house. The double work frees them up for more alone time. When they are not actually lovemaking they live apart. Visits last from the first full moon after mid-summer to the next full moon. Since the Brownees can be invisible they like the moonlight to travel by and don't fear being sighted.

A mated pair of Brownees rarely live in the same village. When the visiting Brownee leaves he or she must bring a present back to their adopted homeowners. This is usually something very small and/or magical that the two Brownees have made during the visit.

The children spend half their formative years with each parent, traveling with them on their annual visits. Since a pair of Brownees will typically only have up to four children and these five years apart on average, there are sill a reasonable number of Brownees visiting. Children that aren't switching, remain in their homes and provide uninterrupted service.

Day 6.2 - Seekretya - Da Races - Dragons, Trols and Wee Folk

DRAGONS –
Dragons ARE magic. Ley Lines are Dragon Lines. Some Dragons are actually the lines themselves. It was the Dragons who pulled the Ley Lines into Seekretya.

Dragons, in their natural state are very large, dark pterodactyls with longer hind limbs and more manageable heads. They can disguise themselves by transforming into human looking creatures. Dragons are social and solitary. They live in cities and alone in the highest, most inaccessible mountain peaks. Their capital is Obsideeopolis, a glittering crystal city on the edge of the Viioletpeeks, overlooking all of Seekretya. In Obsideeopolis all the Dragons are in human form.

Dragons have their own moral code, virtues and vices, values and drives. They are really very rarely sympathetic toward other races.

TROLS –
Trols are as heavy as Megans, but only average 9' tall, so they are much more bulky. They have shorter legs, but very long arms. Trols can go bald at times. They tend to be darker haired, skin and eyed, but there are some groups that are light.

Trols are never alone, even when they appear to be alone they are within earshot of others and never go anywhere without others knowing where they are and what they are doing. The others that are within earshot all consider themselves to be together.

Because of their size and food requirements, Trols do not form communities larger than villages (there are no Trol cities). Depending on the ethnogroup the villages could be clans, families, communes or what humans would consider normal villages. At a minimum Trols live in three house communities, even if there are only three Trols in the community. This is meant to be defensive and supportive. Trols often wall in their communities, with stone walls, wooden walls, hedges, and cut brush (like kraals). In some cases they will dig moats and in some cases they will dig into mountains. Trol houses are solid and dull. Most Trol ethnogroups pride themselves in clean house with few, well built furniture. They don't adorn their houses.

Trols don't go in for music or dance at all. Their art tends to be sculpture; either mountainous or tiny (Mount Rushmore or figurines). They have jewelry, but it's not for beauty wear. Jewelry is worn for its own beauty and is usually small and tasteful, not gaudy. Evening entertainment is food and story-telling.

Trols are monogamous and pedestrian in their sexual mores. They have a strict code of intergender relationships, courtship and marriage. Trols never divorce, but will remarry quickly when widowed.

Trol ethnogroups are lawful peaceful (gentle giants), lawful violent (militant), or chaotic violent (bandits or mercenaries). Sometimes the differences are in time, not by group.

WEE FOLK –
Are about half as tall at humans to as small as half a meter. They are the solitary little people. They like to perform mischief and enjoy physical humor; they are quick to anger and are easily offended. They focus very highly on magic and are very good at it. They use it more often than any other Race.

They're less solitary than Megans, they get together in small groups often to eat and dance, but they don't trust each other and often with good reason. They are also hoarders, keeping crocks of gold and other stashes. They even try to steal from Dragon's hoards.

Wee never get married. They have romantic trists, but the never last more than a few years. During those years they are mostly apart, but come together for monthly week-long one-night stands. While romantically involved they may pine, write poetry and music. They are very passionate and monogamous during this time.

Eventually one of the parents take the child (or as-often twins) and raise them. It' is more often the mother, but about a quarter of the time it's the father.

FAE FOLK – Next time.

Me – Books Over 500 Pages in General – Cryptonomicon in Particular

I think I've discovered something: I can't finish a book over 500 pages. I couldn't finish Aztec, though I enjoyed it. I can't finish Cryptonomicon either. I know it's LTC John's favorite book in the whole wide world. I was given it for Christmas by "Uncle" Mike a few years ago because he loved it and thought I would enjoy it too.
I just can't stand it anymore. I'm listening to it on CD and it is 34 CDs long, THIRTY FOUR! I've taken to skipping to the WWII parts because they are fairly interesting still, but this morning I had to skip through half a CD that talked about one character's milk and cereal.

Seriously, Neal Stephenson, PITH! Edit yourself once in a while.

Maybe it's just me. Once I get the gist of the story I can't put up with it, "Yeah yeah yeah, I get it, next."

I can read series, Discworld, Foundation, Sherlock Holmes (not books per se, but you know what I mean), Harry Potter, Nero Wolfe, Harry Dresden, Lensman, Sharpe, Hornblower; but I just can't stand those long books.

Funny thing is, I get into all those details when I write. I love to research and get tons of facts. These very 30 Days of World Building are a good example. How long have my 30 days been, three, four months? Very often I loose interest after doing the research and I have piles of it that I just can't part with. I like those kinds of details, but I probably do enough research for a book and end up with a 4,000 word short story. Something about actually putting all of that in a book turns me off around page 600-700.

Maybe folks with books like that should take a cue from movies and wait to put it out on the DVD special features. Something like, "Deleted Scenes from Cryptonomicon." See now, I'd read that.

Day 6 - Seekretya - Da Races

Here is what the exercise has for Day 6:

"1. Spend 10 minutes figuring out what people who evolved in each major area of your world would look like. Then spend another 5 minutes asking "2. what if this group encountered that group?" Would they fight? Trade? Both? Inter-marry and blend their genetic types? Would they remain largely separate, with pure strains of both racial groups co-existing (not necessarily peacefully)? How would that encounter be brought about in the first place?" [I added the numbers]

ANSWERS:

Note: No Race is evil. Races are not paired.

There are 5 races in Seekretya, none of which exactly match the old Wee Folk of traditional tales. There are literary reasons and in-story reasons. Literarily, I don't want so many different races, I don't necessarily like the way they're depicted, and they don’t match the story mood. The main in-story reason is that when they got to Seekretya they had conflicts, wars, treaties and agreements as they jostled into the small, insulated world. They re-built themselves and their relationships.

The lingua franca of Seekretya is English, though there is a shared magic language as well and some groups may retain their original language in private, though that is becoming more rare.

The Races are reproductively separated. There are little people that are social (Fae) and there are little people that are solitary (Wee). There are social (Trol) and solitary (Megan) big people as well. The fifth Race is the human race.

Ok so these are somewhat paired, but it will turn out that ethno-grouping is almost stronger than race-grouping so it won't be an issue. I certainly didn't want to try to approach the question from the idea that there are pairs for everything, and the pairs play off of, fight, or complement each other. There is one Water People for instance and they don't have to be balanced by any other group. There aren't groups for all geographical features or ecological niches.

Any Race can perform magic and there are Wizards in all Races.

Although I don't agree with the idea of races in describing different groups of Homo sapiens, I think it is the right term to use in this story. These are all hominid races of people. They all share the same body type, generally the same abilities, minimum intelligence level and minimum technological development. They all have the same basic attitudes, desires and outlooks. In short, they are not aliens, but different people, more than just culturally different, but still people.

There is one species of sentient magical animals (and I hesitate to have these because I don't like talking animals, so I'll class them as Creatures) they are Dragons. They ARE alien intelligences.

The Races and Creatures are further divided into Ethnogroups. They call themselves clans, tribes, nations, peoples. Some of them have developed political territories with names like empire, kingdom, territory or land. These political areas I'll refer to as Lands. Races or Ethnogroups might coexist in a Land, or a single Race or Ethnogroup might divide themselves into several Lands and constantly struggle for control of their neighbors.

There are Ethnogroups that are generally pro-human and ones that are generally anti-human. This usually holds true throughout the entire Ethnogroup with individual exceptions rather than Land based exceptions, although an anti-human Land may ally themselves with Humans in the interest of dominating a competing Land (but they won't like it).

As far as the heroes are concerned, the anti-human Ethnogroups are generally evil. As Humans they see these people as unnecessarily cruel to Humans, or to have values normally considered as vices by most Human cultures.

MEGANS - Megans reproduce once every 3 or 4 years depending on if they have an omnivourous diet. Those with a more rounded diet go into estrus more often. Gestation is 16 months. Every 11 years everyone goes into estrus at the same time and they have what they call, "The Merging." Very large gatherings are held. There is a great celebration. Tents are set up for carnal visits (they are very private) and trading happens. The Mountain Megan trade sheep and goats, the Forest Megan trade fruits, nuts, berries and other vegetarian food stuffs.

Forest Megans are almost exclusively herbivourous. They are the tallest of all Races, at an average of almost 14'. They are ambivalent of Humans, and prefer to stay clear of them. The more omnivourous of them will eat a Human if the opportunity arrives, but that's very rare (like a man-eating hipo), usually when a Forest Megan is weak, sick or very old. These are generally the "trolls" in stories like "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."

So, going back to 30 Days.

1. Spending 10 minutes on what Megans look like, They are leggy and square shouldered. They are twice as tall as humans, but only about 4 times heavier. They aren't beefy. When they are overweight they get pot bellies. Their hair, skin and eye color are all across the spectrum. They do then to have thick hair on their heads, faces and bodies. The women have only slightly less hairy on their bodies, with their hair only slightly thinner. Their facial hair is much thinner, and not often noticeable. They then to be strong in the way thin, wirey people are. Their clothing is widely varied too. Some groups go almost naked, while others wear so many layers that you would think that they are all overweight.

2. I've already talked about how different groups of Megans interact. They tolerate the presence of most Trol groups, though they have no interaction with them. They think of Wee folk as pests, like insects. They are most likely to eat them or kill them without thinking much about it. Wee folk in their turn delight in tormenting Megans, considering them slow and dimwitted. Fae avoid Megans and vice versa. When they do come in contact both groups would give ground and leave the area. Faery lands and Megan lands do not overlap at all.

Coming Soon: DRAGONS, TROLS, FAES and WEES. Watch this space.

Day 5 – Seekretya – The Map

FINALLY! I got a chance and an idea on how to do the map.

I had an idea in my head, but I really wasn't able to realize it. I tried several methods, but nothing worked except hand drawing it and that didn't even work well. All I had was a tiny sketch. Finally I pulled out a full size piece of paper and a ruler and drew it.

It's still not good, not at all, but at least you can get an idea of the kind of thing I was thinking about.

I was working from these ideas:

A plateau in north central Montana (southern Alberta) about a mile high and 100 miles in diameter.

• 7 Valleys
• 7 Spurs
• 7 Rivers
• Valleys are Alpine leading down into Aspin woods, then into Temperate Rainforests and finally down to the 7 Bay Lake

There are 9 Lands
• Two span two valleys (one is The Confederation of Light in the north and the other is The Dark Empire in the south (capitol is Obsideeopolis))
• The Orange Valley and the Yellow Valley are divided in two by the river (the OV borders the CofL on the west and the YV borders the CofL on the east)
• The Green Valley is divided into three by elevation
• The rivers and the center of the lake are generally considered the be Water People "Land"
• The working titles for the single valley lands are Bludland (in the Red Valley on the west side of Seekretya) and Akwaland (in the Bluu Valley surrounded by the Bluu Mountains and the Green Hiits)

• Working Titles for Ridges
- Red-clifs

- Oranj-hils
- Yeloo-ridj
- Green-hiits

- Bluu-mountens
- Indigoo-peex
- Violet-buut

7 Colors = Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet

General Color rules
• Big people (Trols and Megans) use Violet and Indigo
• Humans use Green
• Little people (Faes and Wees) use Yellow, Orange and Red
- Exception - the water people who are Racially Fae use Blue almost exclusively
- Accents – Silver, Black, White, Brown

Wizards (use colors too)

• 7 Archwizards
• 49 Viswizards
• 363 Common Wizards
• 399 Wizards Total

Populations

Total 5/mi2 = 40,000 Total
5% (2,000) Human
10% (4,000) Megans
15% (6,000) Wees
30% (12,000) Trols
40% (16,000) Faes

Humans are in 7 towns

• Heeleeos [I don't really know the names to use, maybe Suntown] – 1,000
• Fegareeos [maybe Moontown] – 500
• Afrodiiteeos [maybe Venustown, or Tuestown] – 100
• Areeos [maybe Arestown or Wenstown] – 100
• Zeusos [maybe Jupitertown or Thurstown] – 50
• Kronos [maybe Saturntown or Friitown] – 50
• Hermeeos [maybe Mercureetown or Saturtown] – 50
• Scattered outside of towns or nomadic - 150

Day 4.5 – Seekretya - More About Scars

I've been thinking (and I haven't gotten a chance to do the map yet so I'm stalling as well).

As written the magical items, animals and people were all FORCED into Seekretya. I don't like that and it doesn't really match the MOOD. It is somewhat allegorical of "Indian Reservations" and I don't want that feel at all.

A better way to look at the World Scars is that the Ley lines were affected. This affected the usefulness of magical items and changed the power base. True this was caused by humans, but humans did not corral, transport and imprison the magical races. There were no Nazi death trains, slave ships or Trails of Tears. The magical races followed the magic to Seekretya. They are more akin to humans going to the new world to find new wealth and opportunities.

I think the magical animals both followed the Ley lines and were brought by the magical races. The magical artifacts as well, both followed the magic and were brought by the magical races.

Also, there is no Fate and no prophesies.

Addition to Day 4 – Seekretya World Building Scars

I know I said I wouldn't revisit Day 4 for Seekretya, but I have a few things I need to talk about.
I've been toying with the name of this land (I have to name the land so I can put a handle on what I'm doing, though naming comes much later in this process). It's all based on the spelling convention I intend to use.

In this book all letters will be very civil and behave properly. Each letter will say its name and say it in only one way. When vowels whisper their names (short vowel sounds) it will stand alone, and when it shouts its name (long vowel sounds) it will be doubled. Y says yeh, not ee. C can't be trusted at all, so the only place you will see it is if it's being accompanied by a letter that can be trusted. For example you may see it with the letter H (ch).

Because of this spelling convention Sekretia would be pronounced, SEE-kreh-t-ih-ah. I have a hard time saying it like this so I'm changing it to Seekretya (SEE-kreh-tyah). It doesn't look as right, but it's much easier to pronounce and it this way and it invokes the feel I want, that this is a secret place.

The other thing is this: most writing guides that talk about magic and fantasy say that you need to create a system of rules for your imagined world and stick to it; but I've found some of the biggest sellers never did this.

J. K. Rowling and L. Frank Baum never let rules and consistency bother them. Heck, Baum swapped East and West on his maps, made the Wizard a good guy, a bad guy and then a good guy without explaining any of it (not in the same book but between books). It didn't seem to make sales suffer. Rowling is renouned for plot holes big enough to fly a Ford Anglia through and obvious enough for a muggle to spot. Doctor Who, Star Wars and Indiana Jones all take such liberties with science that they could be called Fantasy, but still they wouldn't be following their own rules, but instead follow the money and never let little things like consistency and logic get in the way of making the story exciting.

I'm not going to go into pointing out all the inconsistancies and plot holes (there are plenty of websites out there for that). What I want to point out though is that the big blockbusters don't follow that rule, so why should I try so hard?

The most popular music isn't always the best, the most expensive "art" often isn't art. Curse you Henry Ford! If you hadn't pointed out that the most available bucks are to be gotten by good-enough with the masses, and not by excellent with the rich, I wouldn't be suffering this crisis of creativity.

I like order and rules, but I sometimes get caught up in creating the system and not the story.

Anyway, it's Seekretya now, going forward. I'll correct a few things I already did if they are connected with things going forward so that searches will work correctly. This has nothing to do with World Building Scars, but Day 4 is one of the things I'm going to go back and change the spelling on.

Day 3 – Seekretya – Going Back to Mood and Setting

I'm not really sure where or when I abandoned the children's fantasy with the 30 Days of Worldbuilding, but I did and I started only doing this exercise for Heavy Magic. That's nice, but now that my Father is gone I've been telling bedtime stories to my two younger daughters and I want to bring Seekretya back up to where I got with Heavy Magic.
I think I got to Day 4 with both. I want to catch it up with Heavy Magic. First, I'll revisit day 3 because I want to adjust it a bit and crop it down to just the Seekretya part. I don't have any changes to Seekretya from Day 4 so I won't post that again.

Write down four words that fit into that feeling: two adjectives, a verb, and a noun. Now return to the page with your list of climates and emotions. Do any of them match up? If they do, you have your climate. If not, try to find closest-match words.

If you spend 10 solid minutes thinking about this and still can't decide, pick two climates that express moods you like. You can make up your mind later, and you can even build your world with both climates containing equally probable sites for your story.

Children's Fantasy Part of Day 3

1. ADJECTIVES: Cuddly, warm, fuzzy, lush, rich, inviting, homey, difficult, attainable
2. VERB: Teach
3. NOUN: Challenge

The climatic responses are:
• Green valley
• River
• Smokey Mountains
• Temperate forest

Today I'd just make a few minor changes. I'd emphasize Teach NOT preach. I'd add Anxious (not fear, but trepidation and eagerness to continue in spite of the uneasiness they feel (the listeners/readers). I'd combine Green Valley and Smokey Mountains and change them to Alpine (valleys, balds, lakes, peaks, cottages etc.). I'd add Great Lakes and Aspen Forest.


Children's Fantasy Part of NEW


4. ADJECTIVES: Lush, rich, inviting, homey, difficult, anxious, attainable
5. VERB: Teach (NOT preach)
6. NOUN: Challenge

The climatic responses are:

• Alpine

• Aspen Forest

• River

• Temperate forest

• Great Lakes

For inspiration on this story I'm thinking L. Frank Baum's Oz series crossed with C. S. Lewis' Narnia, Princess Bride, Indiana Jones and the Sound of Music. They'll be no talking animals though.

I want Multi-level appeal = Guy/Girl, Adult/Child. I want the kind of romance that boys like and the kind of adventure that girls like, I want the kind of story that a grandpa could read to a sick grandson, or a father to his daughters at bedtime.

Maybe it will have to have bedtime parts and parts that you shouldn't read at bedtime because they'd be too exciting and keep you up. I do want it to give you exciting dreams though. A warning before each cliffhanging chapter might be cool.

Day 19 - What If?: Character

BTW - Looking at Boris Vallejo's work I posted earlier I realized that his work does NOT actually fit the mood I'm trying to set. His work has mostly naked women like Frazetta or Corben, but it's too bright and overall too smooth (I do like smooth women, but the whole scene is too smooth).

These bullets are from 30 Days of World Building. She had used the name "Joe" but I'll use my wizard, Thahn.

• Describe Thahn's physical appearance, age, educational background, and speech patterns:

o See Spreadsheet

• What would a stranger notice 5 minutes after meeting Thahn?

o He wearing a Black Wizard's hat, but a Green Wizard's vest and carries a wooden staff (really his magical bow) that also shows that he is a qualified Green Wizard. He is under average height and weight, but has a look in his eye like he means business.

• What would a companion notice after 5 days of travelling with, working with, or being around Thahn?

o He's much more lighthearted by nature, but serious because of the situation of the story. He likes to smile and laugh, and will laugh easily, but the situation will cause the laughter and smiling to fade quickly. He takes a great deal of pride in his work, both Black Magklik and Green Magklik.

• Who are Thahn's parents? Are they still alive?

o When he was still a teen the local lord, Count Grogan conquered the land his Father farmed. Because Thahn was taken to become a Wizard his Father was taken into the army as a reward for providing a Wizard. He died in battle. Thahn's mother was made one of the lord's concubines as a reward. She has worked her way up to first concubine. (This is from the story I wrote originally, I'm not sure if it jives with the current marriage rules I laid out above, but I think it would suit the ultra-evil Grogan).

• What if Thahn met his parents? How would he behave?

o He would quietly weep if he ever found his Father's grave. If he ever met his Mother he would be respectful, but would resent her for using her sex to get ahead.

• Where did Thahn grow up? What if Thahn had grown up somewhere else? What if he didn't like his home?

o Thahn grew up on a farm in the forest. When he was a very young teenager he was taken to the Academy to become a Wizard. He hated having to learn to be a Black Wizard and eventually left with his degree but sought other work.

• What if Thahn wasn't born there?

o This question doesn't make sense, it would have to ask what if he had been born in a specific different place.

• Who is Thahn's biggest hero? What if Thahn met his hero?

o Thahn's hero is the Green Wizard Lohm, who died defending his forest from wonton distruction. Thahn would be very surprised and confused to meet the dead wizard.

• What if Thahn met his nemesis in a neutral public place?

o He wouldn't hesitate to try to kill him. He would try to attack the instant he saw him, not in a sneaky way, but also he doesn't care if his enemy knows or not who killed him, just that he die.

• What if Thahn had a family, kids, etc.? What if Thahn's kids were part of Thahn's problem?

o Thahn thinks he wants a nice farm girl for a wife, but he is actually attracted to the ultra sexy Priestesses if they are the village type. He would marry one and try to go off somewhere to be the protectors of whatever village they end up in. He would closely and lovingly rear his children and would be crushed if they were a cause of problems. He would never be able to kill or hurt them even if they were evil, but he might help the officials who were hunting down his child.

• How does Thahn fit into your speculative element? Does he not believe in it? Is he an expert in it? Is he an outsider?

o Thahn holds a degree in Black Magklik and Green Magklik. This is very rare and he is considered a prodigy in magklik.

• What if Thahn encountered something he didn't believe could happen? How would he react? What would that something be?

o He'd be skeptical, but approach it in a scientific way. That something would be a truly good Priestess.

• What secrets does Thahn have? What if his nemesis knew his secret? What if a love interest knew? What will Thahn do to protect his secrets?

o His secret is his involvement in The Movement. He might kill an official who knew if they were a sufficient threat to the Movement. He would suffer torture and death is he could keep the Movement a secret.

• What does Thahn not know about himself? What if Thahn wasn't who he thinks he is? What if he learned about himself? How would he take the information?

o He can and does love a Priestess. If he didn't have the history he thought he did he'd disown it if it didn't match his current moral values.

• What if Thahn left home? What if he returned? What if Thahn became an outsider or outlaw?

o He did. He can't it's destroyed. He is an outlaw, he doesn't mind if since he's in the company of good people.

Mystery Analysis

I know I've been doing thus 30 Day Worldbuilding, and I do intend to continue, but I've been having a hankerin to do mystery shorts. The trouble with that is I can't seem to be able to focus my efforts. I thought it might help me if I analzed what kind of myteries I like to read.


For this I'm going to look at what I like and what I don't like and why. I'll also look at the style, and look at Pros and Cons.  This may take a couple of posts.

Who I like - Doyle's Holmes (of course)
Style - Old Contemprary (historical but it was contemprarary when written)
POV - 1st person Watson

Who I like - Poe's Dupin
Style - Old Contemporary
POV - 1st person "Watson"

Who I like - Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin
Style - Old Contemporary
POV - 1st person Watson/Sleuth

Who I like - Donald Sobol's Encylopedia Brown
Style - Contemporary Cozy/Puzzle
POV - 3rd person

Who I like - Psych / Shaun Spencer
Style - Contemporary
POV - TV

Who I like - Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams' Danny Dunn Sceintific Detective
Style - Contemporary Cozy/Puzzle
POV - 3rd person

Who I like - Lindsey Davis' Falco
Style - Historical
POV - 3rd person

Who I like - Christie's Poirot
Style - Contemporary Cozy
POV - 1st person Watson

Who I like - Max Allen Collins' Nate Heller
Style - Historical
POV - 1st person Sleuth

Who I like - Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko (Gorky Park)
Style - Contemporary
POV - 3rd Person

William G. La Fleur BG (Ret.) 1942 - 2010

My father died last night.  He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2008, and after over a year of chemothearapy he had come home.  He had been being cared for by his family for six weeks before finally succumbing to the desease, surrounded by family and friends.

He had been a US Marine, retired Captain of the Chicago Police, retired Brigadier General in the Illinois Army National Guard, a Silver Beaver awarded Scoutmaster, Rochelle and Flagg Center Firefighter, son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather.

He is greatly missed.

He donated his body to science.

Visitation will be held on Friday April 9th from 3:00 to 6:45 p.m. at Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th Street Rochelle, IL with a celebration of Life at 7:00 P.M. and Memorial Mass will be held at St Patrick Church on Saturday April 10, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. Memorials may go to donors choice.

Day 18b - Speculation and Society (Addendum)

LAW and LAW ENFORCEMENT
I pulled this out from within the questions from the previous post because I think it'll be a big topic.

MAGKLIK LAWS IN NOKKATLAD AND LADDAN.
Before there were Wizards the Klelryn Web held all power to use magklik and mag. It was unlawful for non-priestesses to collect or use mag, and all Sourcerers were to be turned into the Web. The Nobility backed this, but it was mostly regulated by the Web itself, much like the Church policed teachings in the Middle Ages.

With the advent of Wizards and wizarding use of mag and magklik the laws had to be changed, but since they were more like canon than laws it just meant a widening of the way in which the Klelryn Web controlled magklikal situations. By dogma only the Klelryn Web can make use of Sourcerers and only the Web is allowed to provide mag in its raw form to Wizards for their use.

There is a Klelryn Inquisition that is responsible for ensuring the control of Sourcerers and mag. All Sourcerers are considered property and chattel of the Web.

In terms of the story, smuggling Sourcerers out of the country is against the law and canon. Although pursuit and prosecution by the secular authorities is possible, the real danger is from the Klelryn Web and its Inquisition.

Magklik items (artifacts) are regulated by the Academies more as a quality regulation of the items and how they are provided. This is similar to guilds making sure the goods of their guilds are quality and sold for a fair price.

The Academies make no claim of ownership to any magklik artifacts unless they are actually property of the members of the Academy.

The Wizards police themselves and leave it to the secular authorities to police the rest of the populace. The Academies, unlike guilds, are less interested in making money or controlling production and are more interested in making sure any artifacts or services are of the highest quality and any new processes or methods are investigated and recorded.

For the most part there are no Wizard laws restricting, controlling, limiting or forbidding any use of mag, magklik or magklik artifacts. Of course it is criminal to use a magklik artifact in the commission of a crime and the secular authorities call upon the Wizards to aid them in pursuing, apprehending and prosecution criminals who use magklik.

In story terms, smuggling Sourcerers is of almost no concern to the Academies. The only real concern would be if it caused the Klelryn to restrict the supply of mag to them. By the time of the story this has not occurred, but is a possibility that has begun to occur to a few Chancellors. There has been no decision on which side the Academies will fall in this or if they will impose restrictions because of it.

At present, since no magklik or magklik artifacts are in question, the Academies have no legal stand on the issue. They are not even taking a stand of the conduct of there members. Wizards have been considered technicians and non-decision makers for so long that the Academies are taking the stand that their Wizards are merely technicians who are doing their jobs and not responsible for how their devices, items or services are being used by their customers, even if they are in active maintenance of those devices while they activities are going on.

DATING and MARRIAGE
Again, dating and social relationship building is a very big topic. In fact I think that reproductive relationships are probably the most powerful driving force in all life.

I discussed before that Klelryn Priestesses are encouraged to participate in sexual activities but are forbidden from marriage. Daughters are committed to the Priestesshood very early in life and it is much like sending a daughter off to a convent. Sexual activity and social interaction while in the Abbeys is very much like it would be in a convent, except that there is instruction in how to use sexual favors and acts in magklik.

Among the Golchin the strict social hierarchy controls who is allowed to socially interact with whom. Up and down one level is fine for social interaction, but inter-level marriage is rare and involves many requirements.

It most often occurs while a man is in military service because service includes a natural progression of capable soldiers and the stagnation of incompetent ones. A soldier can go up in status and class by talent, but cannot slide down. Likewise a soldier with potential may marry above his current station, with the expectation of greater things to come and perhaps even better soldier progeny.

While Golchin can get to higher rank by outdoing someone of higher rank (assassination, duel, etc.), they can not by marrying up

Marriages are conducted by the Klelryn Priestesshood, as they are the equivalent of clergy and they can enchant the couple to produce more children of better quality and bind the couple together. Even the lowest level Priestesses are thought to have this power (whether they do or not).

Divorce among the Golchin is relatively unheard of. In the fairly rare cases of infidelity it is more often that a Priestess is called in to enchant the couple once again and re-bind them.

Social interaction and dating is not regulated at all among the Fidchin. Marriage is conducted by the Academies because they maintain all records of everything. Some Fidchin have Klelryn marriages as well, but this is not common.

Divorce is not common, but holds no stigma. Records must be kept and an adjudicator is assigned by the Academy.
Sex is not treated as a taboo subject by either groups and pre-marital sex is very common. Once a couple is married they are expected to remain faithful to ensure that children are well taken care of and it is very clear who the parents are. For the Golchin this is important for social standing, for the Fidchin this is important because they want to know everything about everything.

BTW - that painting is Boris Vallejo, who also does art that matches the mood of my story, but very much of what he does is not safe for work.

Day 18 - Speculation and Society

From 30 Days of Worldbuilding (I've modified it a bit):

1. Revise your cultural write-up from Day 10 to include your speculative element
ANSWER: I originally wrote it with my magic (magklik) in mind. I reviewed it and that is still true.

2. Answer the questions.
--a. How does the addition of magklik, with all of its powers and limitations, affects your culture and society?
ANSWER: This is a VERY open ended question. I think Days 13 and 16 went into this exhaustively and it should be pretty clear by now.

--b. How are people different in your culture, now that you have magklik?
ANSWER: It is a power that they fight over; it is the technology that drives progress and wealth. Imagine how much electricity changed the world, agriculture, automobiles, railroads, telephones, and computers. That's the kind of change it had over people. The GOE has no magic, but they have Romanesque technology. The introduction of magklik to them was like introducing gunpowder or the printing press to the Romans would have been.

--c. With magklik in the world, does that change how people react to unexpected situations?
ANSWER: Magklik is very predictable and permeates society. People today don't think twice about computers, but some still believe in magic and fairies. Within the framework of magklik people aren't surprised, but outside of it they are still just one step into civilization. Magklik didn't change that.

--d. Do people still bother to pray?
ANSWER: This question was in 30 Days specifically for stories that have a mythological bent. Mine doesn't but I wanted to touch on this. Wizard magklik is technology, Klelryn magklik is religion, but it's regular, organized religion like Catholicism. Catholics take for granted that the bread and wine are miraculously transformed into Flesh and Blood. Devotees of the Klelryn, the followers are no more surprised by the priestesses powers than the followers of faith healers, in fact they expect it. Do they pray? If the Priestess tells them to they do.

--e. How do crimes happen, or do they not happen at all?
ANSWER: Precognition is not a power of magklik. Postcognition may be available and enchanting witnesses to discover forgotten memories are available. These are controlled by the Priestesses. Law and law enforcement is a very interesting topic and deserves more time and space than here.

--f. How does a teen go on a date?

--g. How is society the same? What do you think basic, unchanging human behaviors are? What do you think people will continue to do, with or without magklik?

--h. How do "ordinary" people react to those with or without the ability to use magklik?

3. As a bonus, you can get back to your character sketch and figure out where your protagonist and supporting cast fit into your speculative elements and society.
ANSWER: That's exactly what the story is about, so it doesn't really make sense to do that here.

(more to come)