With Guthrie Center being named as an overnight town for RAGBRAI, I started thinking more about bicycling. Of course, it is not bicycle-riding weather yet, but that’s not stopping some people from pumping up the tires in anticipation, including my wife, Jolene. She has been an avid cyclist in years past, and she can’t wait to get those tires rolling again — and she wants me to join her. 

We have the bikes. We own the gear. We know the routes. But, we have differing views of what bicycling is. 

I spent most of my childhood on the seat of my bicycles. I rode them to the swimming pool, to the Little League games, to my friends’ homes. My bikes were nothing special, but they were my sources of transportation — and freedom — and riding was so easy. Jump on and start pedaling. I still have that mindset today, except I now prefer a motorcycle over a bicycle. 

My wife, on the other hand, sees bicycling as a form of exercise with many steps to the process.

First, she has to dress in the full uniform with spandex shorts, bicycling shirts, gloves and pedal-locking shoes. Then, there are the water bottles (yes, plural) that must be filled with just the right amount of ice and water and placed securely in the metal bottle holders (yes, plural). Next, she must air up the tires (every time she rides) to the exact pressure. Then, she adjusts the seat, cleans the biking sunglasses, straps on one of the assortment of helmets (yes, plural), and she is almost ready to go.

And me, when I join her on a bicycle ride?

I sit on my bicycle patiently waiting for the right time to ask if she is ready. And, of course, there is no right time to ever ask is she is ready. She will tell me when she is ready. I am learning.

It won’t be long, and we will hopefully be on two wheels — Jolene on her bicycle and me on my motorcycle. And, if you need water, just ask Jolene. She will have a spare bottle. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

The truck I own today has more bells and whistles than my prior trucks, and I appreciate most of them. But, one specific annoyance that I am working through is the key fob. It really isn’t a key, and that wouldn’t be necessary anyway because my truck doesn’t have an ignition cylinder — or a door lock. 

Does anyone remember when a vehicle key was actually a key? In fact, there were two keys: one to unlock the doors and one for the ignition. And, do you remember when having a spare key made didn’t require an appointment at a car dealership’s service department or an application for a bank loan?

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the key fob features. Locking. Unlocking. Starting. Alarm. Even a tailgate drop. But, having this key fob in my pocket is like having a rock in my shoe. It’s incredibly annoying. 

My solution was to leave the fob on my desk, on a hook, etc. This proved to be an invitation for losing the key fob, which makes me nutty. So, I found a solution. Actually, my daughter Abby did. She gave me a carabiner, a spring-loaded clasp that I then hook to my beltloop. No microwave-sized fob in my pocket anymore. And, no time spent trying to find a misplaced fob. Making this solution even better, I found a leather cover that not only protected the plastic fob but made me quite fashionable. At least I thought so, until the leather cover broke and the fob fell out. 

Of course, I risk having the entire carabiner fall off my belt loop, but I will take that chance. The benefit outweighs the risk. Besides, it leaves more room in my pocket for things like my refrigerator-sized cell phone.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Do you always says always? And do you never say never? Everyone says those words. Or maybe it’s nobody? I can never remember. The point is that all these words are absolutes, and they rarely hold true. 

As journalists, we try to avoid absolutes. Instead, we use words like frequently, often, mostly, sometimes, much, seemingly and, as noted at the end of my first paragraph, rarely. 

Obi Wan Kenobi from “Star Wars” says only the Sith deal in absolutes, but the Out of the Fog website takes it a step further, stating that these absolutes are “Always and Never statements” and “are frequently used by people when they are arguing in order to emphasize or illustrate the merits of their position.”

The article more directly states that these words are “frequently used by individuals who suffer from personality disorders, because they fit neatly into the split, black and white world of their thinking. They are most often used in an accusatory, argumentative or self-pitying way.”

Whoa. And I thought they were simply used by people who wanted to be dramatic.

On a softer note, the website also says Always and Never statements “are usually exaggerations, which serve an illustrative purpose and are understood by both parties to be hyperbole and not literal.”

Meanwhile, the next time you want to use those words, remember this self-contradicting adage: “Always and Never statements are always false and never true.”

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

What color are the clothes you are wearing right now? Your answer might say more about you than you think. According to yourtango.com, the color you wear the most has great power over your mood, your attitude and how you are perceived by others. Yikes.

If your wardrobe consists of a lot of the color black, you may be seen as “powerful.” But beware, the article says, as too much black can be overpowering. Nobody told Johnny Cash. 

White clothing can help you “look clean and innocent” and imply that you are an “organized and detail-oriented person.” Until you spill on it, of course. 

People either love or hate purple, according to the article. If you want “to appear regal” or “show uniqueness and artistic creativity,” then purple is a great choice. And, if you are a Vikings fan, it is even better.

Orange is “a playful color.” If you wear too much orange, though, you may not be taken seriously. Orange you glad you know this now? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Blue, one of the most common clothing colors, represents “honesty and trustworthiness.” The article says this is why hospital employees, bank logos and law enforcement uniforms are typically blue. Can’t argue with that. 

When you want to appear all-natural, green is said to be the way to go. The article also states that shades of green make a big difference. Deep green can “signify envy and greed,” and Army green can “make you appear rigid.” Natural and rigid? Hmmm.

Red is a color of “action, power and passion” and shows that you want to be “recognized when you walk into a room.” Go, Cyclones.

Pink is another color of passion but shows “that you’re vulnerable, and, of course, girly.” I assume my “salmon-colored” shirt falls in this category.

Keep in mind that this is all one person’s opinion (Tegan Connor, brand manager for Neverland Store), but check out the full article here and have some fun with this today.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

There are two types of people in this world: those who are seemingly early for everything and those who are continually late. 

I worked with a woman a few decades ago named Mary, and she clearly fit in the latter category. To her credit, she took responsibility and didn’t shift blame. In fact, she shared something back then that has stuck with me to this day: “You are either planning on being on time, or you are planning on being late. But, either way, you are planning.” How true. Thank you, Mary.

As a teenager, I liked to see how quickly I could do things and still be on time. The end result was that I was sometimes tardy. After several instances of showing up late for my first-period class, my teacher, Mr. Yocum, reported this to the principal, who then notified me that I would be spending my free time in detention for a few weeks. Mr. Yocum never chastised me, never called me out in front of others, or never embarrassed me about this. He simply wanted me to know that there are consequences for being late. I needed that lesson. Thank you, Mr. Yocum.

When I started my first job out of college, I found myself stressed by the drive to and from work and the fear of being late. Meanwhile, my co-worker Helene always seemed relaxed and fun-loving. Her solution was simple. By arriving a few minutes earlier, and staying a few minutes later, she avoided the traffic problems and found much of her stress to go away. Easy peasy, she said. Thank you, Helene.

Today, I am rarely late because I plan on being early. I now have less stress, and I don’t have to sit in detention. So, yes, tardiness can be fixed, at least for me. I credit this to lessons learned from Mary, Mr. Yocum and Helene. How about you? Which camp are you in, and how are you working (or not working) to be on time? 

Have a tardy-free Tuesday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Several years ago, I had a boss who told me that my greatest strength and my greatest weakness were the same thing — my lack of patience. He may have been right, but I don’t have time to sit around and think about it. I got things to do.  

My friends tell me I eat too quickly. They are correct. I should slow down and enjoy food more. Some studies show that a person will actually eat less when slowing down the rate of food consumption. Sounds reasonable to me. But not easy.

Maybe this is all because of the marketing of “fast,” “quick” or “instant” foods. There is no shortage of fast food restaurants, of course, but what about individual products like instant coffee, instant pudding and instant mashed potatoes? And then there is Minute Rice, Nesquik and Quick Quaker Oats. And if that all wasn’t enough, we now have Instant Pots so we can rapidly cook many other things, too. Are we really in that big of a hurry to eat. 

My mother shares stories of her and her sisters helping my grandmother prepare meals each day. It was an all-day, multi-person effort with baked breads and pies, vegetables from the garden and freshly butchered meat. She said they would rise early to prepare breakfast, then get to work on dinner and then immediately start on supper. Now, that was work, and I don’t know anyone who wants to go back to those trials. 

Grilling meat might be the go-between. There is something special about watching meat slowly cook to perfection. Your favorite music playing. A cold beverage in one hand. A spatula in the other. Peace. Relaxation. Patience. We could all seemingly use more of those things nowadays.

Now hurry up and get that grill started!

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707