Be here, and happy, now.

Why are people posting that they are sad? I've been told (a lot) recently that my life should a shambles, sheer dismay and woe; but I don't see it. I honestly feel that I need a gratitude mop to sop up all the goodness and sweets. If you are really, truly sad may I suggest buying a cruiser bike and ride it until it groans under you and you feel happy as you fly around in the sunshine? Try to be grateful for Your problems, you really don't want anyone else's.

B is for Bike.

H.G. Wells said, "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race."

(Thanks Julie T. for the image!)

P is for a passion for Picnic.

My new fixie. Ha.

In July I put a down on this bike at Sundance. I picked it up on Tuesday. Ever since I've been parking so that my driveway is clear. Whenever the need strikes (10x/day) I hop on, ride around and around & breathe. Love this bike. It is not a "go there" bike, it is a "be here" bike. I added a ding DONG bell.

It is made by Felt & named Picnic.

A is for Amazing Alpine Loop!

JUST REALIZED THAT I NEVER POSTED ABOUT THE MOST MAZING PART OF THE SUMMER! I RODE THE ALPINE LOOP WITH MY PAL ABL! FOUND THIS IN the DRAFT FILE OF MY EMAIL... DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T SEND IT. THE BREATHLESS QUALITY IS FUN. I WAS ON A HIGH FOR WEEKS AFTER THE RIDE. I HAD NEVER EVEN DRIVEN THE LOOP. WE RODE ON THE 3RD OF JULY, the weather was perfect. Spin 3x/wk isn't enough or the same... I CAN'T WAIT TO GO AGAIN!

Hi ABL!

To be read with a grin spreading across your face: I told a tricked out cycling pal that I rode the ALPINE LOOP! "You?! Rode?! the Alpine Loop?!" Yes, I did!!! and it was AWESOME! My friend ABL is so completely amazing!

Everyone I have told the broken brake story is amazed. 5 min earlier or later and you would have been seriously hurt, if not killed. Tender mercies. I've also heard some stories of bad spills, both of them on the DOWN hill -- tell I.

***--->How many tickets do we need for Oz tomorrow? I'll make sure I get the right amount first thing tomorrow, after spin.

I feel great by the way. Yes tired. Fasting didn't really happen. In the middle of Primary I raided the junk drawer in our car. Ate 2 melted granola bars ... grains, sugar & chocolate (yicky milk chocolate). Thanks for taking me! I had a GREAT time. I was feeling extra bad about how long it took and then I realized we stopped and then we also stopped and talked at different points, which was also great!

Onward!

We are about to leave on a picnic.

Love you,

H

B is for Bucolic Bike ride.

[C, N & M went to pick up K & J. S is asleep, battling a stomach bug.]

I love to ride my bike. I ride it in my head if I'm not actually on it. My legs are going, "UpUpUpUp."

Sunday C and I rode for about 8 miles. It was so fun -- it is tricky to ride with him though. Don't know why. He is always trying to teach me something and although I DO need to learn a lot more about cadence, my cadence, and strength in general, his lectures drag.

What I need to do is pull out my labeler and note what goes which way & does what. Inevitably I shove the wrong thing at the wrong time and it feels as if I have hit wall. NG. [not good] I am getting more comfortable on my bike, but I learn best when I SEE the message a few times and then I get it. It might also help if I built a bike or two--I don't get the gears, big/small = hard? small/big = easy? Low? High? Yes, I actually know a rocket scientist, mais, il n'est pas moi.

Tonight I rode to OCJH (2 miles w/ a steep but short hill) for the open house (K is in 9th grade!) and then onto deliver an invite to J's party on Saturday, further up a hill. That meant that I could ride down a long fun ways.

Came home, via the tunnel, circled about once in the road before riding on my driveway, rode over the grass and parked my bike in its spot in the garage! -- The garage that I Landed today.

Then, refreshed, in nice clothes, I put on an apron and messed with clay for a long while. Thinking: IF I WERE TO HAVE ART, & NOT CLEVER CRAP, IN MY HOUSE WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS OF VALUE? What has meaning & is of use visually? What could I make 3 times and still find fascinating? What is my personal graffiti? Is there life after wind chimes and fridge magnets?

Cleaned up the table and came inside, with clay covered hands and still in the apron.

Happiness.

B is also for Bikes.

If I had a big enough garage I think I'd start a bike collection. Oooooh, I love looking at, and riding!, them. Here are a few images I've collected over the last few months and stored on my desktop, a virtual garage of sorts.


Brake-less, gear-less in San Francisco! I dream of being so cool that I could ride a bike like this, helmet-less, in San Francisco and live to tell about it.


Geared and fully loaded with brakes and bags. In theory this bike holds 20 bags of groceries. Dig the kick stand. Available at Mad Dog in Orem.


This is a gem that we saw in NYC. LOADED. Brakes, gears, bells, whistles, sirens, batteries, storage, locks, lights. The man who owned the bike was a character. So lovely. When he noticed me admiring his bike he came over an talked with me. Kinda missing a few teeth. He was a garbage collector, loved his work. Made this bike. And then he pointed out one of the special features:

The red thing next to the "ding-dong" bike bell (I have the same one on my beloved "vintage" pink bike (only 18 years!)) is actually a very LOUD siren, taken from an authentic NYC car. He pressed it and got a lot of people's attention.

Hello Kitty checking out the bike in NYC.


The one that got away... sniffle sniffle.

W is for Want that.

With the nifty new trail on our street and the tunnel xing St St we NEED one of these. The surrey is really what I want, memories of Stow Lake in San Francico. Hmmmmm. A surrey could make a Sunday afternoon picnic a snap.

Our neighbors have the grooviest recumbent tricycles! (Overstock.com) J is loving it tonight.

S is for SPIN.

This is where I am heading. If I can leave in a minute or two I'll ride my bike there. ..only seems fitting.
I hope to catch up on Rona/Spin posts in the next few days. These shots are from just before Mother's day. I tie dyed a bunch of towels (IKEA $.49) and put one on each bike... they were well received. (Didn't do tie dye with Taz last week.)

I love the dark room, loud music, distracting teacher, friends, sweat. It is no longer about weight loss, it is 100% for my brain. About an hour after class I am so much calmer, not really relaxed. It is just a clean feeling, even when I look sick and don't get a chance to shower until late in the afternoon. Perhaps that is the definition of an addict... showers become secondary to the drug.

S is for a Sunday Stroll. (17.5 miles by bike.)

Yesterday we went for a Sunday picnic up the Provo Canyon. It was lovely and everyone was on a bike, 'cept M who slept her way up the canyon in the trailer. N, J, K, S all cheerfully rode and rode and rode to the over-crowded park where we hung out for a long time. Picnic in tow -- feta walnut dip is messy, fresh pineapple is great. I rode with a wacky colorful chair on my back and my new helmet on my head. S made sure she was always about 200 feet away from me. She, in 16 year old modern style, text-ed friends (non-stop) and listened to her iPod.

It was a dream come true for me, like everyone skiing together. And, like a dream... no pictures.

Next time I think we'll head up American Fork Canyon... less commotion?

B is for the Body -- a Sesame Street Exhibit.

I'll come back and add more information later.

W is for "I Want THAT!"

F is for Felt, as in Bicycles

Marcie came for a visit on her new bike