My knee was hurting like hell this morning.  I’m not totally sure why, but for some reason, sometimes riding my bike aggravates my knee(s).  It may just be muscles that aren’t used to getting worked, I don’t really know. I’ve never had knee problems before so I’m not too concerned about it.  Normally though, I’d take the day off from riding to work.  Actually, even this morning, as I was getting ready for work, I was thinking about how I’d tweet about not riding to work.  But then I remembered what got me on my bike yesterday (oh how quickly we forget things) and decided to do it anyway.  I took the easiest, least-hilliest route, but I did it.  My knee still hurts, but I feel better, having ridden (in case you’re concerned though, I think it feels *a little* better after the fact.)  I’m glad I did it.  And thanks are in order for Jeff Moser and his blog (and the inspiring people who comment on it) for reminding me why I started doing it in the first place.

Another dumpy slump.

Our July third ride was so amazing.  It was a super long ride, and we got to spend the whole day together.  Two things we never do.  I wish there were more room in our lives for that.  There’s just not enough rides in our lives and not enough time.

It’s not that can’t/won’t/don’t want to ride by myself.  But it’s so much better when we do it together.

Riding makes me feel really good.  Physically and (more importantly) emotionally.  So, why am I not doing it more often?

I rode to work today (and three days last week).  But why don’t I feel good (emotionally)?

Brad and I have kind of a bad history when it comes to many holidays.  Valentine’s Day, Independence Day and Christmas have all been pretty bad at least once each, in the four years we’ve been together.  This Friday will mark the one-year anniversary of when Brad first became sick after floating the Truckee River and contracting some kind of violent stomach bug (for those who don’t know, he was very ill for about six months – and very healthy now!)  That is aside from the fact that we both got the crap beaten out of us by the river last Independence Day.  I might have had a slight panic attack, which might have made it worse, but that’s besides the point.

We didn’t really think much of it when we decided to do our “celebrating” on the third.  But in hindsight, it worked.  Well, either it worked, or it completely didn’t matter at all.  We did suffer a flat tire, but it didn’t end up ruining our day.  And that was the best.

Brad and I so look forward to, and cherish, the very rare day that we both have off.  It doesn’t happen often, being that he works weekends at the hospital and I work weekdays.  So when I found out I’d have the third off, we were stoked to sleep in, lay around, have a nice breakfast AND GO FOR A NICE LONG BIKE RIDE.  So we rode the trail that goes from downtown Reno all the way to east Sparks.

It was fun and peaceful and just so nice to do what we like to do.  Together.  On the way back, we realized Brad’s front tire was completely flat and we didn’t have a travel pump.  And apparently the pump his tires require is somewhat rare.  After lots of calling, we finally found someone that could bring our pump all the way to us (did I mention, we were in Sparks?)  My little sister’s roommate was our savior and we were back on the road.

There was definitely a moment for each of us where we could have gotten really pissed off and upset.  And it could have completely ruined our day.  But it’s quite amazing how much difference a positive attitude can make.  It’s easy, of course, to remain positive when it’s not your own tire that’s flat.  But it’s contagious.  I was determined to find a solution, and we did.  And all was good.  And we still had a fantastic day.

us out in Sparks. we rode all the way to the Legends from our house, which is south of downtown.

on the way back. it really is a beautiful trail.

getting close to wingfield as the sun was setting - there's river in this shot somewhere.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is that bad shit happens, sometimes when we’re trying to celebrate (which might be our own fault – as human beings – for having high expectation), but what matters is how you deal with it.

So … sorry for the two-week-long (or at least it was two weeks back when I started this post) hiatus.  Seems like it’s taken longer than I thought it would to get out of that funk, I guess.  But I think I’m officially out of it.  At least for now (haha, I’m not stupid enough to think it won’t return).  As I’ve said before, time with family is license to eat like shit, and a weekend in Vegas is no different.  I seriously tried to brainstorm ways to get to go for a bike ride while visiting family for three days, but darn-it they just don’t make those overhead compartments big enough for my bike!  However, running around after a two-year-old niece is pretty good exercise:

see? she won't even stop playing long enough for me to take a picture (yes, that is a pink baseball mit and a purple ball)

So, I didn’t get much activity while in Vegas, but I was pretty quick to get back to riding to work.  Although I haven’t been so good about riding otherwise (neither has the boyfriend).  Wait, that’s not true.  We DID go on one long ride to Michael’s so we could buy paints to decorate our watering can (we’re crafty).  This is what happens when you don’t ride for several weeks:

lots-o-dust

So, to any of my local friends reading this: GET A BIKE!  Then we can ride together and be merry.  Go, right now, to the Reno Bike Project and buy one. (But please, for the love of everything that is holy–or unholy–wear a damn helmet.  And if you need to know why, please check out my friend David LaPlante’s blog post, “An Ode to Helmet Hair and the Vanity of the Fools. Don’t be a dumbass, wear a helmet.” Srsly.

However, I WILL be going for a ride tonight, however, to go see Veer, a bicycling documentary that will benefit the Bike Project.  They are going to have a bike valet. That.  Is.  Awesome.  So, hopefully more frequent, longer distance bike rides in the future.

In other, completely unrelated news, we have an awesome garden coming along in our planter box:

basil to the left, chives, lettuce, more chives and tomatoes on the upper right. yeaaahhh.

And a pretty little watering can to go with:

we're crafty.

and lastly, my niece is awesome.  Just an FYI.

LEGO FINGERS!!!

Challenge for next week: go on the Scheels Tuesday night bike ride.

So, I LOVE the rain.  Especially in the summertime.  I love everything about it.  I love the smell (but my office neighbor Milan and I have decided that is just the smell of wet dirt – less appealing).  I love looking at it, listening to it and even walking around in it (as long as I don’t have to be anywhere important and can get dry when I’m ready).  I was born in Florida, but moved from there before I could come to the point of appreciating or hating it.  The majority of my childhood was spent in Las Vegas, and my adult thus far has been spent in Reno.  So I don’t get to see much rain.  So when Reno gets blasted with thunderstorm after thunderstorm with no foreseeable end, I would like to think I’m the last to complain.

But.

Call me a wuss, but I really don’t like riding in the rain.  Wetness + windchill of riding = not a fun time for me.  Not to mention the fact that my glasses do not in fact have windshield wipers.  I’m not going to deny it though – Brad and I are at the tail end of a really funky series of weeks.  After graduation, house guests, insane workweeks, etc. we have been too exhausted to go anywhere/do anything fun.  This week has been one of catching up – on sleep, housework, jobwork, etc.  I’m also not going to deny that–as much as I love it–the rain has contributed to and overall feeling of “blah.”  At least for me.  I would not normally fall asleep at 8:30 p.m. and sleep through 7 a.m. the next day.  Too much sleep then contributing to another day of blaaarrrggghh.

And so.  I am conflicted.  In more ways than one.  I love the rain, but I don’t want to be a lazy, lethargic bum.  Plenty of people live in cities with lots of rain and it doesn’t halt their lives.  I love riding my bike, but thinking about riding in the rain makes me want to throw a temper tantrum.  But riding my bike is the first step in getting outta this funk.

Well, I know what I need to do.

Went for a quick ride to Ace Hardware last night.  Riding in a dress is interesting.  But feasible.

2 ginormously exhausting, driving around town workdays

+

1.5 days of uncontrollable vegging

+

5 days of thunder/lightning storms

=

no bike riding in over a week …

and I am not happy about it.  Will hopefully ride to work tomorrow, weather permitting.

Wow, so it had been a really long time since I have done any significant bicycling.  My good friend from high school, Margarita was in town for the weekend (as was my mom, but that is a story for another day).    We did lots of fun stuff this weekend, including beaching it up with Annie up at the lake,

gotta love the paradox of laying on the beach when there's still snow on the mountain

lots of delicious dinners out, laying by the pool at my mom’s hotel, pedicures (Margarita’s first!) and a lovely bike ride up to the University.  Margarita went to UNLV and had never been up here.  So among her weekend of firsts, she wanted to see the beautiful campus of my alma mater.

from the north end, up by the knowledge center

So, Margarita hadn’t been on a bike since middle school!  That’s almost as long as it was for me.  But she was very brave and wanted to ride to UNR.  It was a beautiful, quiet Saturday ride through downtown Reno.  We rode around the campus for a bit and then back down.  We stopped at the River Walk and then to home for some R&R (this was where the pedicures and poolside relaxing came in).

i had no idea i was in this photo, but isn't the river pretty?!

I have to say, it is feeling pretty good to feel like I know what the hell I’m doing when I’m on that “little red bike with a basket.”**  And at this point, I’m just trying to spread the love.  Love of cycling, that is.  You just can not beat that feeling of riding in to work and not needing coffee.

**that is the top search term for finding my blog–how cool is that?!

As stated in a previous post, I am not good at spending time alone.  I spend my weekends alone, cleaning, doing laundry, watching ANTM marathons, sometimes going for solo bike rides and a little too often, feeling sorry for myself.

Exhibit A – I once had to spend a Friday afternoon by myself at work:

This is super sad.  I really, really hate being alone.  Maybe it’s because I am home alone so often, but I really do not appreciate my alone time as I should.  I don’t have kids, or many responsibilities for that matter, so I really just haven’t come to appreciate being alone.  I am sure in a few years or so, I’ll really love my me time, but for now, I want to be surrounded.  Maybe it’s a need to feel loved?  Maybe it’s because I was NEVER alone as a kid and as a result never fostered that imagination gene, but I really don’t think I am very good company.

No wonder I tagged that entry with the word “pathetic.”

I would like to express my newfound okay-ness with spending time alone.  After having an overwhelming amount of house guests two weekends in a row, I look forward to my next weekend alone.  That is not to say I will be happy to have Brad away for 10-hour workdays on Saturday and Sunday.  This is also not to say that I don’t LOVE having house guests.  I really, really do.  There is something special about people coming to Reno to see my life, our life, in our cute little home nestled just southwest of downtown.

Last weekend, for Brad’s graduation, among many of Brad’s family members in town, my dad stayed in our guest room.  On top of this, my sister was also moving out of the dorms and into a new place.  It was a busy weekend.

This weekend, my good friend Margarita stayed with us, while my mom stayed at the Atlantis.  Now, while my sister is moving out of her new place and into a different new place, she’s crashing with us.  [Leah, if you're reading this, which you're probably not, I <3 having you stay with us and please don't hurry out!]

As I said, I love having anyone (within limits) stay with us.  But that was pretty condensed, I’ve got to say.  Since I have to work on Saturday, I look forward to a Sunday of housework, laundry, solo bike rides, tv and absolutely no feeling sorry for myself.  And maybe even a little gardening if we have a finished planter box by then:

Planter box we** are building

**I use the term “we” loosely because all I’ve done is hand Brad screws or hold things steady while he saws/drills things.

So, we never ended up going for our Sunday ride.  I know, we suck.  Not sure how but Sunday screamed by so fast even though we barely did anything.  Had Sunday brunch at Voila! with my dad and his new girlfriend.  And you know how much I heart Voila!

my faja and his girlfriend, karen

Oh right, and Brad graduated from UNR on Saturday, which was nice.  It’s graduation, y’know.  REALLY hot day, forever long ceremony.  It was crazy how hot it was this weekend, actually!  Luckily we were in the shade, but it was way too hot for May.  I’m glad it’s back to 83 today   Anyway, he just happened to be like 10th from the last person called.  Out of almost 2,000 people.  We barbecued, drank beer, got a little sunburned in the backyard.  Good times.

So anyway, for some reason, we just did not make it out to ride our bikes.  We did however make it to the hardware store to buy supplies for my new planter box (!!)  We are very excited to start growing stuff   Brad figures we’ll start with some herbs and then plant some onions, garlic, shallots, etc. in the fall.

My dad had my car Monday morning so I was forced to ride to work.  Which is definitely a good thing because I am confident I would not have done so otherwise.  Definitely also contributed to my riding this morning as well.  Today, I VOLUNTARILY went a different way which involved two very large hills.  Okay, not “very large” but pretty big for me.  In the morning.  Before food.  And coffee.  Go me.

Dad and Karen come back from Calif. tonight, so probably no ride, but hopefully we’ll do our “long” ride one day soon.    Brad, if you are reading this, note the sad face!  Kidding!