The Day’s Campaign Report
- gmaylone
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
The Day’s Campaign Report
Some days just come at you sideways, and all you can do is roll with it.
Today was one of those days.
I woke up ready to take advantage of the weather, get some yard work done, maybe clean out the garage a bit — hoping I’d earn a trip to the driving range or at least a cold beer outside.
Not in the cards. But the day turned out memorable all the same.
Phase I:
Dawn Patrol Glen up, straight into 100 crunches, coffee down, choppers brushed and cared for.
Short jaunt down the highway to the Indian Head Rail Trail for a 16.2-mile bike ride. Outbound was a glide, a slight downslope, but inbound was the grind — every bit of that slope coming back at me.
I did manage to shave five minutes off my last sortie, which is progress I can feel.
The trail itself was perfect: sunshine on my shoulders, a cool breeze in my face, deer grazing along the edge, birds chirping, people out, but not crowded.
One of those mornings that makes you glad you got up early and makes you wish everyday could be this nice out.
Phase II:
The Unexpected Encounter Back at the parking lot, I walked into a parking lot etiquette situation I hadn’t trained for.
Let’s just say it involved a surprise wardrobe malfunction at close range.
Details? Classified — different platform required for dissemination.
Tactical response: quick humor was attempted, situation awkward but seemingly diffused.
Morale impact: high.
Phase III:
Mechanical Engagement Halfway through mowing the 3 acres, the Craftsman declared itself non-mission capable.
The pulley stud had cracked and let the belt fly.
Annoyance level: critical.
A tactical retreat to the garage for reinforcements of the high caliber tool type to aid in my reconnaissance as to the full scope of the failure.
After some hand-to-hand combat, with some bruised knuckles incurred, the enemy combatant was identified: one fatigued stud bolt, displaced and mocking me.
It took grinding, cutting, and a resupply run to the hardware store before I could mount the counterattack.
The repair was decisive. A Grade 8 phosphate-coated stud went in, backed by stainless washers and a nylon lock nut.
That part isn’t failing again.
While I had it apart, I replaced the belt, re-aligned the deck, and hit everything with lube.
Might as well.
The Craftsman roared back to life, mission-capable once more.
Phase IV:
Territorial Sweep The last acre and a half fell quickly to the Craftsman after that.
A final sweep with a weed eater, and the backyard was secured, fences and trees cleared.
The garage even gave up some ground — only a partial victory, but the first volley in what will be a longer campaign for garage supremacy.
Campaign Outcome Mission success:
Territory restored.
Fitness gains logged.
Morale elevated.
Sometimes all you can do is laugh and make the best out of the day you’re given — and be grateful you were given a day at all.
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Because whether it’s bowling balls or bicycle chains, the journey is always better when we keep rolling along together.
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