You would think I’d have learned this by now, but for some reason I NEED to keep reminding myself that the time when I least feel like doing something is when I need to do it the most (writing and riding alike).  So, here we are.

First, I have to give myself public props for riding on my first day back to work, and not just because I said I would.  It felt good.  And I knew it would be THAT much more difficult if I didn’t just jump right in and do it.  So I did (and then because of heavy loads in need of transportation, I didn’t ride the next two days), and again on Friday.

In talking with Brad, I’ve noticed that lately, I don’t even have to think about it.  I’d be fooling myself to say that it’s become routine or habit for me already.  But I’m at least able to appreciate how easy it’s been to just get up and get on my bike (hah–all three times).  It does kind of make me wonder though, why it’s been so hard for me to capture any of this in my blog?  Often something will happen (or not happen) and I think, what a great blog post this will make, but the post never comes.  Maybe I am just THAT busy, but I don’t want to cop out with excuses.

That said, the other blog-worthy things that happened (or didn’t happen) since my last post:

We (Brad and I–my family wasn’t so excited about mountain biking) totally missed out on a mountain biking adventure we were trying to sign up for in Curacao.  I was BUMMED.  I have never been mountain biking before and was really exciting at the prospect of doing it for the first time on a tropical island.**

We did do an awesome kayak day in Aruba though, which was super rad.  I had also never kayaked before (although seeing people do it in the Truckee River sufficiently freaked me out about it).  Kayaking on a nice mellow beach though, I was prepared to handle.  I even volunteered to go first (YES, that is impressive and I’ll thank you to not disagree with me).

IweBrad kicked ass at kayaking.  When I wasn’t showering him with my paddle.  At least we didn’t tip over like my bro and sis (sorry guys ).

Anyway, it was fun.  And almost started to make up for the amount of delicious cruise food I ate the rest of the week. ***

The other noteworthy thing that happened this week is we FINALLY adjusted the seat on my bike so my knees will stop hurting (thank you Jeff Moser for helping to diagnose) and it’s a bajillion times better.

Now that school has started (not for me, but for my boo, who is in class until 7 on Monday and Wednesday) and daylight saving hasn’t ended quite yet, I might do some solo exploring on my bike.  Even though, it’s Monday, my workday has ended and yet, I’m sitting at my desk writing this … um, I guess that means peace out til next time! ****

**AND SUBSEQUENTLY BLOGGING ABOUT IT!!!

*** oh, btw, if you were wondering, the cruise was AWESOME

**** and if you made it all the way down here, thanks!  Now go do something more fun, please! (apparently it’s a footnote kind of day)

This week was just so nuts!  Next week probably won’t be too different, actually.  BUT, in spite of my crazy week, I did manage to ride my bike to work three times last week!  I felt so proud.  I have to get better about riding other places though.  After work, on the weekend, etc.  It’s hard to get on the bike if I don’t have somewhere I’m going.  Yeah, I can take rides to Starbucks, but that’s not very far and also encourages me to spend money, which is no bueno.  It seems like all the places that are close enough for me to ride to are too close, but anything else is too far.  I guess I just need to become a better rider so I can go to the far places.  Excellent plan, self. 

On Thursday night Brad and I rode to Starbucks for some hot chocolate and to work on the abstract for his thesis.  That was interesting.  It took us like two hours to go through the whole thing, but I think I helped.  I just barely understand the dumbed down version of what he does.  But I am a writer and more importantly, a journalist, so I have been trained to say as much as I can in as few words possible (although I don’t really display that here in this blog, as I tend to be long-winded and non sequitur).  Anyway, it was hard, but fun.

yeah, we marked it up pretty good

He is such a smart boy.  Oh, and if anyone ever feels like reading his work (and becoming very aware of how little you know about science) click here.  The smarty pants is graduating in a couple weeks, too.    Thanks to Mike for snapping (the elusive and presumed impossible) good picture of him.

Oh, another highlight of this week (I live a very excigting life) was the creepy racoon that wandered around our parking lot at work.  I thought it was a cat at first.  I took a picture, but it was hard to get a good picture of him without y’know, catching rabies.

see him there, about to go under dixie's car?

I know it looks like a cat, but it was a raccoon.  The best part of that though, was the lady across thes street walking her dogs, trying to talk the raccoon out of coming near her and her dogs.

Hey lady, how about going inside?  I don’t think the racoon cares if you want it to stay away.  There was also some genius following the damn thing around.  I know that I didn’t even know it was a raccoon at first, but at least I knew enough to stay away from it.  Oh the joys of working by the river.  It is NEVER boring.  I just noticed I have used two different spellings of the word raccoon (racoon?) throughout the last couple paragraphs and I can’t tell which is correct.  That seldom happens.

Okay, and now I’m just rambling, so I think that means this entry is over now.  Time to go make some breakfast.