Trying to decide if I should keep this blog or not. A few people have told me they'll read my emails, but not the blog. Which then defeats the whole purpose of the blog. It's not that difficult to blind carbon copy to everyone when you're all organized into groups already anyway. Friends, Family, Co-Workers. Done.
Actually you all on my lists should have just gotten a July 4th booklet update :)
So, should I kill the blog? Or keep it?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Happy Tuesday 5/3/11
I know I haven't written in my blog lately. I haven't really used my computer that much, which means no typing.
I've been relatively busy at work, which might be why I feel like doing very little at home. Apparently springtime is the time to do all your fieldtrips. Both the highschool shuttle and my 4th graders have been shaking things up. The highschoolers, being a sort of outdoor dropout prevention course, have gone to a "rock quarry" where they dig up and do things with coquina rock. They've also been to the water treatment plant which I may I have mentioned in an earlier update. Tomorrow is the rescheduled trip to a land fill, which some 4th-graders will get to attend also to make a solid group. The group can't be too large, however, so most will be left out. This is if plans have not changed- perhaps it will only be the older students now. My paycheck was a nice surprise.
Vehicles are still not repaired, but its not too big of a worry at this point. A transmission has been found, and perhaps that man would like the truck, and they will work out a trade. Jamie knows more about all that, of course. We're a month away from the big move and I can feel the excitement all the time now. Not only will it be a great big road trip that I'll get to visit Jessie AND our Wacraft family, but soon we'll be near our friends to play with in real life as well as in the game. And there will be new places to visit, a new town to memorize, new people to meet. New weather to adjust to, I'm sure. The few days of very high temperatures mixed with high humidity had me longing for the days to rush by faster. The storm brought a slight round of cool again, but its fading very fast.
We went fishing with mom for her birthday. I got 3 things! I got a very pretty little fish (with many many rows of wicked teeth inside!) with yellow and blue edges, he had some trouble getting back off the hook. We used live shrimp (scrimps!) and they are so much better than the goo worms I remember. I also had a crab that wanted to swing in atmosphere before getting back in the water. Lastly, I got a skinny little brown speckle fish, with wicked teeth again. Sea fishies don't mess around. Jamie got a crab also, and a few rock croppings which had him diving out in the depths to unsnag the hook. We both burned in odd places. Jamie had remembered to get sprayed with sunscreen, but before he took off his tank shirt. He burned from shoulder to shoulder on his back. I was sprayed in my swimsuit, but had been standing in water already. I burned on the lower half on the sides of my hips and butt. Badly. Sleeping flat on my back is NOT comfortable. I think tonight will be fine, as I was able to very carefully turn onto a side and stay there- if I didn't move to change the pressure. Jamie said he was better already and he slept on his back last night. I only remember because I cuddled him carefully on my side at one point. I got very sleepy very fast after the all-day field trip to St. Augustine with the 4th-graders.
Right, yesterday's field trip. I got to ride a trolley train! We had a narrated little tour riding around, went inside a gorgeous huge church with a sad story behind its 361-day construction, and rode the trains to the fort, then to the playground because the times had been mixed up, so we had lunch first before walking back to the fort for a tour of that. I'd have liked to stay longer, but time flies when you're having fun. We ended up being 15 minutes late back to school, which meant to kids basically ran in to grab their backpacks and some ran back out to ride the bus home.
I've still been riding my bike, but field trips do cut into pedaling time. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I rode to the library and a doctor's appointment, rode the eastern section of trail and managed to catch the city workers relaying pavement markings. The truck lays down a flat ribbon which is more of a like a rubberized coating than actual paint, and a spray of powder which is actually tiny glass beads goes over the top inches after that to make it reflective. The yellow lines are actually incredibly bright and leave afterimages in my eyes as I go down the road. After a week these seem less noticable. Perhaps its because of the old lines being so faded that it simply unusual so I noticed the new bright lines more. We also got brand new reflectors on that road which flash like diamonds if you catch them at just the right time when the sun is right. Its weird the things I notice sometimes and the things which strike me as pretty.
Speaking of striking, I almost hit a turkey this morning. Huge bird tried flying across the road, and he made it, but only just. I thought for a second that I'd have turkey for dinner- it was a big enough bird that I'd have considered learning how to clean a bird in a hurry if the bus nailed him/it. Like I said, he made it. Scared me though.
That's all I guess. Happy Tuesday!
I've been relatively busy at work, which might be why I feel like doing very little at home. Apparently springtime is the time to do all your fieldtrips. Both the highschool shuttle and my 4th graders have been shaking things up. The highschoolers, being a sort of outdoor dropout prevention course, have gone to a "rock quarry" where they dig up and do things with coquina rock. They've also been to the water treatment plant which I may I have mentioned in an earlier update. Tomorrow is the rescheduled trip to a land fill, which some 4th-graders will get to attend also to make a solid group. The group can't be too large, however, so most will be left out. This is if plans have not changed- perhaps it will only be the older students now. My paycheck was a nice surprise.
Vehicles are still not repaired, but its not too big of a worry at this point. A transmission has been found, and perhaps that man would like the truck, and they will work out a trade. Jamie knows more about all that, of course. We're a month away from the big move and I can feel the excitement all the time now. Not only will it be a great big road trip that I'll get to visit Jessie AND our Wacraft family, but soon we'll be near our friends to play with in real life as well as in the game. And there will be new places to visit, a new town to memorize, new people to meet. New weather to adjust to, I'm sure. The few days of very high temperatures mixed with high humidity had me longing for the days to rush by faster. The storm brought a slight round of cool again, but its fading very fast.
We went fishing with mom for her birthday. I got 3 things! I got a very pretty little fish (with many many rows of wicked teeth inside!) with yellow and blue edges, he had some trouble getting back off the hook. We used live shrimp (scrimps!) and they are so much better than the goo worms I remember. I also had a crab that wanted to swing in atmosphere before getting back in the water. Lastly, I got a skinny little brown speckle fish, with wicked teeth again. Sea fishies don't mess around. Jamie got a crab also, and a few rock croppings which had him diving out in the depths to unsnag the hook. We both burned in odd places. Jamie had remembered to get sprayed with sunscreen, but before he took off his tank shirt. He burned from shoulder to shoulder on his back. I was sprayed in my swimsuit, but had been standing in water already. I burned on the lower half on the sides of my hips and butt. Badly. Sleeping flat on my back is NOT comfortable. I think tonight will be fine, as I was able to very carefully turn onto a side and stay there- if I didn't move to change the pressure. Jamie said he was better already and he slept on his back last night. I only remember because I cuddled him carefully on my side at one point. I got very sleepy very fast after the all-day field trip to St. Augustine with the 4th-graders.
Right, yesterday's field trip. I got to ride a trolley train! We had a narrated little tour riding around, went inside a gorgeous huge church with a sad story behind its 361-day construction, and rode the trains to the fort, then to the playground because the times had been mixed up, so we had lunch first before walking back to the fort for a tour of that. I'd have liked to stay longer, but time flies when you're having fun. We ended up being 15 minutes late back to school, which meant to kids basically ran in to grab their backpacks and some ran back out to ride the bus home.
I've still been riding my bike, but field trips do cut into pedaling time. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I rode to the library and a doctor's appointment, rode the eastern section of trail and managed to catch the city workers relaying pavement markings. The truck lays down a flat ribbon which is more of a like a rubberized coating than actual paint, and a spray of powder which is actually tiny glass beads goes over the top inches after that to make it reflective. The yellow lines are actually incredibly bright and leave afterimages in my eyes as I go down the road. After a week these seem less noticable. Perhaps its because of the old lines being so faded that it simply unusual so I noticed the new bright lines more. We also got brand new reflectors on that road which flash like diamonds if you catch them at just the right time when the sun is right. Its weird the things I notice sometimes and the things which strike me as pretty.
Speaking of striking, I almost hit a turkey this morning. Huge bird tried flying across the road, and he made it, but only just. I thought for a second that I'd have turkey for dinner- it was a big enough bird that I'd have considered learning how to clean a bird in a hurry if the bus nailed him/it. Like I said, he made it. Scared me though.
That's all I guess. Happy Tuesday!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 19th 2011
Well things are going well for me I guess. Not much has been going on. I'm supposed to get a new student tomorrow on the bus, they gave me new directions today which go up that way. The last three kids sort of liked the change. While I didn't have to actually make the stop, it shouldn't add more than about 5 minutes to the route in the afternoon at least. Ten minutes maximum. The kids are still great most of the time. We're going on a field trip Thursday, but I'm unsure of the finer details. I'll ask tomorrow.
I'm still reveling in the awesomeness of bicycling. It's so much fun! I'm on the bike, pedaling constantly and my legs ache slightly from moving non-stop, but if it gets hard I just shift down one, if it gets suddenly easier I'll thrilled to shift up and go faster. When the wind is blowing it can feel like torture in the same gear, but just one down makes it so much better. Keeping the same cadence of leg pumping doesn't really let you notice that you're going slower, just that you're still going, miraculously. It seems somewhat strange, but sometimes it feels as if it gets easier to keep going the longer I'm at it. The return trip, or the last few miles, are usually easier (unless there is the dreaded wind!).
I got a bicycle pump today. I needed it. I think there must be a fixable leak somewhere on my back tire at least. It's slow, but persistent, and my steppy pumper got a hole where the hose bends around. I tried the floor pump we had here and surprise! it moves no air. Useless! I didn't ride yesterday because of that disappointment. So I went and got a pump today, WITH a gauge. The frame pump is great, but I can't tell how much air I'm putting in. Once again I got the tires up proper and felt the give in the rubber- I've been way under-inflating with that tiny fun thing. Oh well.
Meanwhile, I think I might be getting better. I decided today to bike to town, to see how far it was to the health department for my appointment next Tuesday, and also because I just felt like going there today. I figured I would go north from there and if I had time, stop at the bike store, and if not, time how long it took so I could plan better the next day. I had eaten lunch late today so it cut up some of my riding time.
Well I made it to the health department in 15 minutes, which is awesome, no need to worry there. Also the bike store was only 30 minutes after I started. I had time, so I stopped in. The man in there is super nice and didn't try to sell me anything, let me just share my enthusiasm over my accomplishments, and let me refill my tiny bottle. We tried on some helmets, and at first he was doing regular adult models, until he realized when I wobbled one that the comment about me having a small head wasn't a joke. Then he magically opened a secret door into a mid-store cubbyhole and produced two helmets: one pink and one blue. I like the fit of the blue better maybe? It has a visor which just might be useful for something other than decoration. But the pink one is pretty and doesn't have the visor. Frankly I've wanted to rip the visor on my current helmet off, but it feels funny to throw it in the trash, and meanwhile there are tiny holes where it pokes into the plastic shell of the helmet. So I still wear it, but it does nothing for keeping sun out of my eyes. Also, Jessie has a blue helmet and the twin in me wants to be like we were when younger- one in pink and one in blue! When we go back to buy one I'll try them on more carefully, and we'll see which color I end up in. Oh, and these, being tiny helmets, are on sale! Because no one usually has a small head like mine, I'm pretty assured they'll still be there whenever we decide to go back, especially since they are magically hidden too! (ok not magic, but I totally did notice a door behind the rack of sales items. They swing forward like a movie secret-passage.)
So far I haven't done anything with the little trailer except pull the bare frame along behind me for the practice and extra tiny bit of weight.
Otherwise, everything else is fine. We're looking to move shortly after the 10th of June when school is out and I should get my summer's 4 withheld paychecks. Weekends are spent working on cars and the week is work, biking and laundry. Simple, enjoyable.
Goodnight!
I'm still reveling in the awesomeness of bicycling. It's so much fun! I'm on the bike, pedaling constantly and my legs ache slightly from moving non-stop, but if it gets hard I just shift down one, if it gets suddenly easier I'll thrilled to shift up and go faster. When the wind is blowing it can feel like torture in the same gear, but just one down makes it so much better. Keeping the same cadence of leg pumping doesn't really let you notice that you're going slower, just that you're still going, miraculously. It seems somewhat strange, but sometimes it feels as if it gets easier to keep going the longer I'm at it. The return trip, or the last few miles, are usually easier (unless there is the dreaded wind!).
I got a bicycle pump today. I needed it. I think there must be a fixable leak somewhere on my back tire at least. It's slow, but persistent, and my steppy pumper got a hole where the hose bends around. I tried the floor pump we had here and surprise! it moves no air. Useless! I didn't ride yesterday because of that disappointment. So I went and got a pump today, WITH a gauge. The frame pump is great, but I can't tell how much air I'm putting in. Once again I got the tires up proper and felt the give in the rubber- I've been way under-inflating with that tiny fun thing. Oh well.
Meanwhile, I think I might be getting better. I decided today to bike to town, to see how far it was to the health department for my appointment next Tuesday, and also because I just felt like going there today. I figured I would go north from there and if I had time, stop at the bike store, and if not, time how long it took so I could plan better the next day. I had eaten lunch late today so it cut up some of my riding time.
Well I made it to the health department in 15 minutes, which is awesome, no need to worry there. Also the bike store was only 30 minutes after I started. I had time, so I stopped in. The man in there is super nice and didn't try to sell me anything, let me just share my enthusiasm over my accomplishments, and let me refill my tiny bottle. We tried on some helmets, and at first he was doing regular adult models, until he realized when I wobbled one that the comment about me having a small head wasn't a joke. Then he magically opened a secret door into a mid-store cubbyhole and produced two helmets: one pink and one blue. I like the fit of the blue better maybe? It has a visor which just might be useful for something other than decoration. But the pink one is pretty and doesn't have the visor. Frankly I've wanted to rip the visor on my current helmet off, but it feels funny to throw it in the trash, and meanwhile there are tiny holes where it pokes into the plastic shell of the helmet. So I still wear it, but it does nothing for keeping sun out of my eyes. Also, Jessie has a blue helmet and the twin in me wants to be like we were when younger- one in pink and one in blue! When we go back to buy one I'll try them on more carefully, and we'll see which color I end up in. Oh, and these, being tiny helmets, are on sale! Because no one usually has a small head like mine, I'm pretty assured they'll still be there whenever we decide to go back, especially since they are magically hidden too! (ok not magic, but I totally did notice a door behind the rack of sales items. They swing forward like a movie secret-passage.)
So far I haven't done anything with the little trailer except pull the bare frame along behind me for the practice and extra tiny bit of weight.
Otherwise, everything else is fine. We're looking to move shortly after the 10th of June when school is out and I should get my summer's 4 withheld paychecks. Weekends are spent working on cars and the week is work, biking and laundry. Simple, enjoyable.
Goodnight!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Tuesday April 5th
Well, the rain today canceled the class trip to the landfill. It's an odd field trip, I know, but this is a sort of ecology/earth science class. I was kind of intrigued and since the water treatment plant was neat, I was planning on staying for the tour or whatever.
Instead, I transported portable students to the main school building due to the storm warnings. They get evacuated to real shelter when things look bad. Then, the gates were closed behind the buses and they couldn't get out! I was empty, being the furthest bus away, so no one came on mine. So, I parked in front of the gates, grabbed my keys and my poncho, and got my pants and sleeve cuffs all wet rescuing my poor trapped bus buddies. Wow it was coming down hard and was windy to top it off, so the poncho annoyed me by not doing its job very well.
The kids are all excited- they got the little chickens finally. They're plan, in case I haven't mentioned, it to keep the chickens and donate eggs to the food pantry. Doesn't sound like a bad plan to me, I might want some chickens. I like eggs, and they are easy to keep. Strangely, the kids don't have peeps I guess, but chicks with adult-color feathers in, and they say 2 died, and they got 2 more, and I guess one more died today. Its a feed or pet store, and I'd be suspicious of disease or something, don't you think? So far I haven't seen the chicks outside, they are in a classroom, my kids tell me.
One of our drivers makes bird houses for a hobby. He made the cutest little schoolhouse bird feeder. It's red and adorable, with a peaked roof and little tinkly bell tower. The roof lifts off, he says, and the feed comes out on the porch and onto little windowsills, I think.
I discovered that my bike parking place becomes a bicycle swimming space in heavy rain. This sucks! I had the perfect little nook between the portable wall and the ramp to park it, using the ramp bars to lock it to. Out of the way, partially hidden from all view. But wet. I have fenders! I totally tested them out today, and they were so awesome I aimed for a few puddles.
I finished my couch cover over spring break. Or finished enough to do a final fit check and ran out of thread (again) and was convinced to leave it on unhemmed for now. It's gorgeous, in my opinion, though I've had a few "why plaid?"s thrown at me. Maybe because I wanted to fry my brain matching up all those stripes, ever think of that, huh?? However, they DO all match up so nicely. So its a great effect. If I cover the pillows, they would be solid black or brown, I think. Several people at work now are considering hiring me, I think. I made a few dollars hemming curtains, which was neat, since I learned to do a blind hem to finish them. My thread collection is lacking an earthy brown-green tone.
Let's see, spring break was otherwise uneventful and lazy. The trip by bicycle 12 blocks to the bank is entirely too short, but there isn't much you can do from the house due to the bridge restrictions. You end up going WAY too far (for me) to try and make a trip out of it to another bridge to make a circle. I did, however, find out that just over the bridge, which is about 2 flat miles away from home, is a little park that is supposed to have a doggie section. And if I don't like that one, then a mile away is another one! I want to take Jackjack for a bike ride. He did really well in a backpack. I've considered a milk crate on the rack.
Speaking of my poor dog, I think he's forgotten how to walk! He somehow damaged his rear foot and the nail came completely off, leaving just toe and a quick nub. That was a mystery in itself trying to figure out what he could have done. I ended up finding the nail (cleaned out by ants, eewww) just inside the laundry room door. Anyway, he's stopped limping and being forlorn.
Now, I get home today, and he walks outside- limping! He has done the same exact thing to his opposite front foot, outside nail. This one hasn't fallen off yet. I'm stumped- his nails are not unnormally long for the 7 years we've had him, and the quick inside them is long so I can't trim them much more than they are. Maybe a trip to the vet to have them purposely cut into to trim the quick back? Anyway, he's back to being poor little Jackjack for another few days.
And last but not least, in case you didn't know already- I LOVE MY BIKE! It's so pretty, especially with bright sparkly raindrops all on it, hehe.
Happy Tuesday!
Instead, I transported portable students to the main school building due to the storm warnings. They get evacuated to real shelter when things look bad. Then, the gates were closed behind the buses and they couldn't get out! I was empty, being the furthest bus away, so no one came on mine. So, I parked in front of the gates, grabbed my keys and my poncho, and got my pants and sleeve cuffs all wet rescuing my poor trapped bus buddies. Wow it was coming down hard and was windy to top it off, so the poncho annoyed me by not doing its job very well.
The kids are all excited- they got the little chickens finally. They're plan, in case I haven't mentioned, it to keep the chickens and donate eggs to the food pantry. Doesn't sound like a bad plan to me, I might want some chickens. I like eggs, and they are easy to keep. Strangely, the kids don't have peeps I guess, but chicks with adult-color feathers in, and they say 2 died, and they got 2 more, and I guess one more died today. Its a feed or pet store, and I'd be suspicious of disease or something, don't you think? So far I haven't seen the chicks outside, they are in a classroom, my kids tell me.
One of our drivers makes bird houses for a hobby. He made the cutest little schoolhouse bird feeder. It's red and adorable, with a peaked roof and little tinkly bell tower. The roof lifts off, he says, and the feed comes out on the porch and onto little windowsills, I think.
I discovered that my bike parking place becomes a bicycle swimming space in heavy rain. This sucks! I had the perfect little nook between the portable wall and the ramp to park it, using the ramp bars to lock it to. Out of the way, partially hidden from all view. But wet. I have fenders! I totally tested them out today, and they were so awesome I aimed for a few puddles.
I finished my couch cover over spring break. Or finished enough to do a final fit check and ran out of thread (again) and was convinced to leave it on unhemmed for now. It's gorgeous, in my opinion, though I've had a few "why plaid?"s thrown at me. Maybe because I wanted to fry my brain matching up all those stripes, ever think of that, huh?? However, they DO all match up so nicely. So its a great effect. If I cover the pillows, they would be solid black or brown, I think. Several people at work now are considering hiring me, I think. I made a few dollars hemming curtains, which was neat, since I learned to do a blind hem to finish them. My thread collection is lacking an earthy brown-green tone.
Let's see, spring break was otherwise uneventful and lazy. The trip by bicycle 12 blocks to the bank is entirely too short, but there isn't much you can do from the house due to the bridge restrictions. You end up going WAY too far (for me) to try and make a trip out of it to another bridge to make a circle. I did, however, find out that just over the bridge, which is about 2 flat miles away from home, is a little park that is supposed to have a doggie section. And if I don't like that one, then a mile away is another one! I want to take Jackjack for a bike ride. He did really well in a backpack. I've considered a milk crate on the rack.
Speaking of my poor dog, I think he's forgotten how to walk! He somehow damaged his rear foot and the nail came completely off, leaving just toe and a quick nub. That was a mystery in itself trying to figure out what he could have done. I ended up finding the nail (cleaned out by ants, eewww) just inside the laundry room door. Anyway, he's stopped limping and being forlorn.
Now, I get home today, and he walks outside- limping! He has done the same exact thing to his opposite front foot, outside nail. This one hasn't fallen off yet. I'm stumped- his nails are not unnormally long for the 7 years we've had him, and the quick inside them is long so I can't trim them much more than they are. Maybe a trip to the vet to have them purposely cut into to trim the quick back? Anyway, he's back to being poor little Jackjack for another few days.
And last but not least, in case you didn't know already- I LOVE MY BIKE! It's so pretty, especially with bright sparkly raindrops all on it, hehe.
Happy Tuesday!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday Bicycling
Today is the wednesday before saint patrick's day, are you ready to wear green? I am! I have a nifty leprechaun shirt I'll wear, hair bows, and leprechaun socks, even though no one will see them through my shoes. Perhaps I'll go to Target and see what goodies are in the dollar section.
I think more people should ride bicycles! It's so enjoyable. Maybe not as enjoyable in hot weather, but it's good for you and surprisingly efficient as a mode of transportation. You don't really realize how far you can go. From work to the house is six miles, although there is a monster bridge in there. I went six miles last week with a cold!
Today I went a different route, the other direction, stopped at the bank, and then Publix to grab a snack, since I left the house without one this morning. I was thinking cheese stick when I walked in, but graham crackers are buy-one-get-one-free. There were no individual cheese sticks, so grahams it is! They were calling my name anyway.
But riding there and back took almost no energy, it feels like. Oh sure, when the wind was blocking against me, I shifted down a gear. Big deal! I got to the bank in only ten minutes at a leisurely pace and stopping at 2 lights (like you're supposed to) like a car.
Seems to me that more and more people might turn to bicycles as a form of transportation if the gas prices keep rising as they have. It may be a symptom of not having my own car to worry about a gas gauge for, but I just realized that prices are up to $3.75 a gallon!! That's almost four whole dollars and I remember people absolutely flipping out about it nearly hitting three dollars a little while ago during a spill I think. Maybe its a good thing my husband and I have been mechanically forced to carpool...
The benefits of biking are many, and I feel like listing them:
-Biking doesn't use gas, deisel, or produce harmful fumes like a car.
-It's quiet! In some places the traffic is so noisy that you can't even hold a conversation, but on a bicycle it's the easiest thing in the world just to wave or say good morning to someone.
- You see more when you aren't going 55mph. Honestly. Think about the last time you went somewhere close to home. Can you list exactly what is between here and there? You can appreciate scenery or notice local tiny shops when you aren't rushing from point A to point B. (Or even if you are on a bicycle, there is time to read the signs :P)
-Exercise! The dreaded word for some, I know. But pedaling a bike is kind of like an elliptical I would think- low impact on legs. It's good for your legs and butt muscles, and even moderate exercise, such as a leisurely bike ride, has been shown in studies to improve mood due to chemicals released in your brain. Like during sex! How about a bike ride, hot shower, and then sex? Three good things in one!
-Bicycles are cheaper than cars! Well, some bikes can get outrageously expensive, but you know what I mean. A bike doesn't need a tag, yearly registration, or even a title! Tires are cheaper for a bicycle. You don't need insurance, only a good lock.
-Yes, you can take things with you on a bike. You can install a rear rack as well as a front basket or panniers. Or, you can go big and get an Xtracycle! This turns your ordinary bike into a longtail bike, capable of hauling small children, an adult, a ton (ok not a real 2000lb ton) of groceries, or other weird stuff. You find out that you don't NEED to carry a whole bunch of stuff with you either.
-Community. A bicyclist is part of a whole community of enthusiasts who share experiences, complain about road-rage jerks in car-cages, and all the other stuff a group of people do with a common interest. You might bike only for pleasure, or be training for a marathon, but you have something in common with other bicyclists that maybe people in cars don't even care to try to think about. Does the average driver of a honda see other Hondas and smile? I know somemost Beetle drivers do! Just saying, you're like a bus driver waving to other drivers, bikers looking out for each other, or beetle owners spreading the goodwill.
So that's me up on a soap box for a minute because honestly, I just rode 4 miles and I'm feeling that awesome feeling I mentioned above. Now, it's really too bad I won't get home for another 3 hours to continue my checklist... :P
Happy Wednesday!
I think more people should ride bicycles! It's so enjoyable. Maybe not as enjoyable in hot weather, but it's good for you and surprisingly efficient as a mode of transportation. You don't really realize how far you can go. From work to the house is six miles, although there is a monster bridge in there. I went six miles last week with a cold!
Today I went a different route, the other direction, stopped at the bank, and then Publix to grab a snack, since I left the house without one this morning. I was thinking cheese stick when I walked in, but graham crackers are buy-one-get-one-free. There were no individual cheese sticks, so grahams it is! They were calling my name anyway.
But riding there and back took almost no energy, it feels like. Oh sure, when the wind was blocking against me, I shifted down a gear. Big deal! I got to the bank in only ten minutes at a leisurely pace and stopping at 2 lights (like you're supposed to) like a car.
Seems to me that more and more people might turn to bicycles as a form of transportation if the gas prices keep rising as they have. It may be a symptom of not having my own car to worry about a gas gauge for, but I just realized that prices are up to $3.75 a gallon!! That's almost four whole dollars and I remember people absolutely flipping out about it nearly hitting three dollars a little while ago during a spill I think. Maybe its a good thing my husband and I have been mechanically forced to carpool...
The benefits of biking are many, and I feel like listing them:
-Biking doesn't use gas, deisel, or produce harmful fumes like a car.
-It's quiet! In some places the traffic is so noisy that you can't even hold a conversation, but on a bicycle it's the easiest thing in the world just to wave or say good morning to someone.
- You see more when you aren't going 55mph. Honestly. Think about the last time you went somewhere close to home. Can you list exactly what is between here and there? You can appreciate scenery or notice local tiny shops when you aren't rushing from point A to point B. (Or even if you are on a bicycle, there is time to read the signs :P)
-Exercise! The dreaded word for some, I know. But pedaling a bike is kind of like an elliptical I would think- low impact on legs. It's good for your legs and butt muscles, and even moderate exercise, such as a leisurely bike ride, has been shown in studies to improve mood due to chemicals released in your brain. Like during sex! How about a bike ride, hot shower, and then sex? Three good things in one!
-Bicycles are cheaper than cars! Well, some bikes can get outrageously expensive, but you know what I mean. A bike doesn't need a tag, yearly registration, or even a title! Tires are cheaper for a bicycle. You don't need insurance, only a good lock.
-Yes, you can take things with you on a bike. You can install a rear rack as well as a front basket or panniers. Or, you can go big and get an Xtracycle! This turns your ordinary bike into a longtail bike, capable of hauling small children, an adult, a ton (ok not a real 2000lb ton) of groceries, or other weird stuff. You find out that you don't NEED to carry a whole bunch of stuff with you either.
-Community. A bicyclist is part of a whole community of enthusiasts who share experiences, complain about road-rage jerks in car-cages, and all the other stuff a group of people do with a common interest. You might bike only for pleasure, or be training for a marathon, but you have something in common with other bicyclists that maybe people in cars don't even care to try to think about. Does the average driver of a honda see other Hondas and smile? I know somemost Beetle drivers do! Just saying, you're like a bus driver waving to other drivers, bikers looking out for each other, or beetle owners spreading the goodwill.
So that's me up on a soap box for a minute because honestly, I just rode 4 miles and I'm feeling that awesome feeling I mentioned above. Now, it's really too bad I won't get home for another 3 hours to continue my checklist... :P
Happy Wednesday!
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