BICYCLE TUTORIAL

This evening my neighbor came over and gave me a quick tutorial on my bike. 

First, he taught me how to take on and off the front tire.  I think I get it now.  I can take off and put on the front tire if I need to.

Then he taught me how the shifting works.  The left shift has three gears and the right shift has seven gears.  21 total gears.  But now I could actually get up a hill.

Lastly he taught me how to put on my lock.  A U-lock and a chain.  Gotta lock up the bike and wheel.  So complicated!

I feel much better now. More prepared.

Until tomorrow...

WATCHED THREE MOVIES

This past weekend I watched three movies.  Saturday it was so hot that we got burritos and sat in

front of a fan and watched a movie. 

First we watched Beasts of the Southern Wild.  The was an interesting movie. It was not a light movie. Brenda did not like it because it was one of those movies where everything was a metaphor. The beasts were not the beasts. The rising water was not only rising water.  Nothing is said straight out.

Then it was early so we watched The Debt.  I loved it.  Helen Mirrin is great in this movie.  Watching a 60 year old fight a 90 year old, that's all I am going to say! Very interesting story line about spies who did something and had to go back and fix it 35 years later.

After Brenda went to sleep I decided to watch another movie, Bachelorette.  It was a funny movie. I starred Kristen Dunst and Rebel Wilson.  It is a story about a group of girls who were friends in high school and one of them is getting married. The night before the wedding is the bachelorette party. It gets out of control in so many ways.

Until tomorrow...

TRIED TO RIDE TODAY

Today I tried riding my bike. I haven't quite got the gear shifting down so I rode down the street and could not get back up the hill. Remember when you bought an item and it came with an instruction booklet? I bought a bike and it came with not booklet, no instructions. I find his frustrating.  Now I have to rely on my neighbors to teach me. 

I also tried to put the bike rack up in my garage. I need to hang the bike since we have no room for it. Also if we hang it it won't get banged around. I just wonder if I will be able to put it on the rack. It was easier to lift and put on a rack before I got the front basket installed.  The basket adds some weight to the front of the bike.

Until tomorrow...

BICYCLE!

I am sitting here waiting for my bicycle to be finished. The bike guys needed to put on my fenders, basket (gotta have a basket), and seat lock. I am waiting at a lovely cafe where I had the freshest sandwich in a long time. The bread was so fresh they must have baked it this morning! Hopefully the bike will be done soon.

1 hour later...

I got my bike and it looks fabulous!  The lavender looks good!  The guy helped put it in the backseat of my convertible and off I went. When I got it home I ran into a stumbling block; I could not remember how to put the front tire back on the correct way.  These new fangled things are not like they were 30 years ago!  Finally after I tried 15 attempts and there was sweat in my eyes, I asked a neighbor to help. Turns out I tightened the thingies too tight.  In other words I did it too well!  Always an overachiever!  I got it all fixed and I took it for a test ride.  Then Brenda took it for a test ride.  She assured me that she was fine riding a bike (although she had not rode one in, uh, 40 years) and she almost immediately scraped the neighbors car and hit a parked scooter!  Scared me to death!  She needs a bike helmet for sure!

I finished putting on the water bottle holder and my cute bell and now I am good to go.  Of course now it is almost 100 degrees and no one wants to be outside.  Perfect timing! 

Until tomorrow...

GOT MY BICYCLE PARAPHERNALIA

Today I called and the bike shop has one bike in my size and color. They have to assemble it. Meanwhile I went and bought all The Stuff. The Stuff costs almost as much as the bike! Helmet, lights, cute little bell, water bottle holder and bottle, locks, and little Velcro thing to keep your pants from getting caught in the chain.  Oh, yeah and the thing to hang the bike in the garage. 

I better enjoy this bike!!

Until tomorrow...

GOOD DEED FOR THE DAY

Today I was leaving a client's office when I looked down.  On the ground I saw what looked like a bank credit card.  I stopped and did a double take.  It could not be a credit card.  But it was.  It was also a transit card and another card.  I picked it up immediately and looked around.  No one was on the sidewalk.  I quickly tucked the cards in my pocket and looked around for a police officer.  I was in an area where there are lots of cops.

On the way to my car I ran into no cruisers so I decided to go to a police station around the corner.  A few minutes later I pulled up to what I thought was a police station.  It turns out it was a police union shop and a police uniform and supply pick up location but there were plenty of police officers in attendance.  I went up to an officer and told him I found a bank card around the corner and needed to know what to do with it.  He jokingly said "You didn't use it?  That is what everyone else would do."  I told him I am not like everyone else.  I am one of the few honest folks! 

He took down my information and asked me where I found it, etc.  Then he took the cards.  I jokingly asked him what was stopping him from using the card to go shopping?  He said he was well paid and didn't need to use it. 

So I guess I did my good deed for the day.  I hope the person gets their stuff back.  I sure hope they were not mugged or anything.  Maybe they just dropped it but it seems weird that it would be three cards if they dropped it. 

Until tomorrow...

DOG ON A PILLOW

First, I am feeling much better.  I am never quite sure what comes over me but I just feel like crap.  Today I felt better and went to see a client and ended up working all day.

Someone please explain to me why my little dog feels it is okay to lay on the fancy pillows on my "good" couch in the living room.  That little dog has beds all over the place that are made especially for dogs but does she want to lay on them?  NO.  She wants to wait until I am not looking and jump up on the living room couch and knock over the fancy pillows and curl up like a ball on top of them.  She used to jump up on the good chairs in the living room and fall asleep until we started catching the big dog (Happi) climbing up on them too.  Then it had to stop.  Happi has never climbed on furniture her entire life.  I guess she was feeling jealous that the little dog was "allowed" to be on the furniture.  I would chase the little dog off the furniture 20 times a day.  Once Happi started jumping on the furniture, that had to end.  I got some large Styrofoam pieces and put them on the chairs so neither dog can jump up.  Now Happi lays on the floor like a dog!  I am still working on the little dog.  Maybe she thinks she is not a dog?!

Until tomorrow...

STILL FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER

I tried so hard to get it together today.  I wanted to go to my clients and work but I could not.  I sat on the couch and worked on my laptop all day.  Okay, I really lounged on the couch while I worked.  Not good for my neck.

I am going to bed now to get a good nights sleep.

Until tomorrow...

SPENT THE DAY IN BED (AND NOT IN THE GOOD WAY)

After not feeling too good yesterday, I thought I would feel better today. Well, I didn't. I basically spent the whole day in bed or on the couch. I was a beautiful day too. I just could not pull it together. First I was achy and tired. Then I had an upset tummy. Then I slept some more. 

I ended up ding nothing I had planned. Instead I watched the entire season 5 of Nurse Jackie.  I just could not feel better.  Brenda kept asking what was wrong? And did I feel better? 

I am sure I will feel better tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

SLAMMED BY A TRUCK

Today we went to a park where there were food trucks parked. It started out as a nice sunny day but it quickly became overcast. We stayed for about one and one-half hours. Brenda had some really good fried chicken and I had the one vegan dish. It was a quinoa, potato salad with lemon vinaigrette. It was tasty just not filling. Then we shared a slice of plum/raspberry pie.  We were disappointed the kettle corn folks were not there. That kettle corn was really good a few weeks ago at the kite festival.

Then when I got home I was going to eat a bit and then go to REI to look at bike stuff. But I could not get off the couch. I had that overwhelming exhaustion, achy bones, my skin hurt (not from sunburn) and I could not stay awake. I slept until 5pm.  I have not had this happen in quite awhile. I didn't have it the day of the kite festival or yesterday when I cleaned out the pond. I am wracking my brain to try and figure out what is different. Today I wore shorts and I used sunscreen on my face. At the kite festival I forgot sunscreen and I wore Capri pants. Today I forgot to put my hat on right away. Last time I had my hat on from the minute I got out of the car. Last time I drank more because I brought my own food and ate popcorn which is salty. Maybe that had something to do with it.

For dinner I made this awesome roasted cauliflower, broccoli & sun-dried tomato salad with chickpeas. It is really tasty. I love me some roasted broccoli and cauliflower. All the ingredients just come together to have a little vegetable party in my mouth. 

Happy Labor Day!

Until tomorrow...