Thankful: An Update on Life

It's been quiet here for a bit, and I feel the need to apologize. While I realize I don't owe anyone an explanation, I do seem to share so much of what's taking place in life here, that it only seems fitting to fill readers in on at least some of the details. Life has been in a bit of turmoil (I don't want to be overly dramatic because nothing that has happened is as life-altering as some have had to experience) but writing here has just had to take a back seat. After Sam returned from his mini-adventure with the new job in California, and we realized that we were staying in Colorado after all, we attempted to get out of the sale of our home, but unfortunately, there were a lot of circumstances that were simply out of our control.  The buyer wanted to carry through with purchasing the house, and we were left to wait things out. The theme for my mental state over the last few weeks has been kind of a que sera sera attitude.

Que sera sera
*Image found here

As stated in a former post, we couldn't exactly start looking for another home because there was always the possibility that the buyer could back out, or that the house wouldn't appraise. Surely (as my thought process seemed to go), our house was in no way worth what this individual was going to pay for it. Please don't misunderstand. I love our house and we've worked hard to change and add and do all the things that make it feel like home, but it's a small place that has limited potential. Although I didn't want to live in a fantasy world, I thought that the odds were likely in our favor, and that the appraiser just wouldn't see the value in the house - particularly as his job is to assess the home on facts, not emotion - and I was certain that this would be our means of staying right where we were.

But life, well, life had other plans for us. Six days from closing we got a message from our Realtor that the house had appraised and everything was set to close as scheduled. As we were told, we needed to find another place to go. Before this day arrived, we had started looking for rentals and homes for sale. Unfortunately, both are scarce in this area at the moment and there are individuals battling it out for places that normally would sit for some time. Small homes are renting for hundreds more than they should be, and purchases are no different in that they have escalated to levels we haven't seen since before the crash of several years ago. We were amazed to discover that we were one of 50 applicants at the first rental we saw. Yes, fifty. I couldn't help but believe that there was no way on earth we were going to find a place to go in less than a week, knowing that we have pets and were up against so many others who had probably been searching for weeks or even months.

In all of this, we had a friend offer to allow us to stay in his home until we secured a place to live. It was quite a relief to know that we'd have at least a temporary place to go until something came along. Unfortunately, things quickly became strained and before we even started moving any items in, the plan quickly disintegrated. I won't get into the details of this piece of things because it is a long tale all its own, but suffice to say we were completely unsure of what to do at this juncture. Sam has family to the north east part of the state, but it would be an incredibly long/difficult drive every day for an undetermined amount of time, and they have no extra space (although they very graciously offered to take us in, and we were seriously considering this as an option for a short time).

The timing of all of this couldn't have been worse and only added to the immense stress that was permeating life. Not only were we going to be homeless in a matter of days, but as quickly as we'd spot a potential home possibility, we'd quickly realize that there were dozens of applicants within a matter of a day in each instance. I was coming to understand that we were very soon going to be without a home, perhaps living in our vehicle with all of our things in storage. Having experienced homelessness first hand in the past, I was mentally preparing for what was to come. At the same time, the "whatever will be, will be" thought remained in my mind. I kept singing the songs' chorus in my head when I'd find myself ready to have a break down.... "Que sera, sera... whatever will be will be... the future's not ours to see. Que sera, sera." It has been a mantra of sorts to get me through the tough moments, hours and days.

I was trying to keep everything in perspective. No one was dead, the world was not coming to an end, and in the grand scheme of things, all of the happenings were very minor. I have to say, it's amazing what hope does for a person in times like these though. Any little possibility or small seedling of chance would bring my mood up tremendously. I continued to have people tell me that I "seemed to be handling things so well." What most didn't realize is that I was actually feeling quite fragile and alone. Some would ask why we had put the house up for sale so soon, others wondered why Sam hadn't stayed at the job for a bit longer. In my mind, all of the questions were moot because all we could do was deal with what was happening now. No one can change the past and the only choice was to use those little slivers of hope to believe that something was meant to come our way. I tried desperately to stay positive, but it was easier to say the words than it was to actually believe them.

A few days before our house was to close, Sam spotted a house for rent on Craigslist that seemed to have been miscategorized. He called to see if the house was still available, and set up a time for me to go and take a look. When I arrived, I was informed by the property manager that she'd just sold a house for another couple and had promised them first dibs at this place as they also only had a few days to find a home. She said it would be a downsize for them so they may not be interested, but I wasn't holding my breath, fully expecting that we'd get a call stating that they were going to take the house. With the market the way it is presently, how could anyone turn down any opportunity? I knew that the house would work well for our needs, but knowing that we were dealing with competition, I just couldn't let myself believe that it was even possible we'd end up with this house. To my amazement, within 24-hours we received word that the couple had passed on it. Later I would learn that they had merely missed the time cut off she'd given to them and moved on to us. Thank goodness for little favors.

I cannot express enough the relief felt when we found out that we would have a place to move. It was as if a huge weight had been removed and it seemed that we could finally move forward - particularly because we now were down to a day before we had to start moving. I spoke in my last post about the realization that I would miss sitting in our front room watching the squirrels, cyclists and walkers as they meandered by, but I have to say, I have an even better spot for such things in our new home. I feel fortunate that despite all of the feelings of sickness or being ill-at-ease with the situation, I think we've managed to land on our feet somehow.

Our "mini-city" hill. We had a bit of a haze on this particular eve.

The move has been interesting. Even though we have only been here a few days and are only about a mile from our old home, it feels almost like a different world. I have nicknamed it "mini San Francisco" because the house is on a fairly steep hill that has a decent amount of motorized traffic, as well as cyclists, dog walkers, and the convenience of almost anything we could need within walking distance. Our old street was inordinately quiet, whereas this house almost always has some sort of background noise. Some might not like it, but we were looking for a shake up, a change of sorts, and even though we are virtually in the same location, it really does feel completely different. We are still adjusting to the traffic noise, particularly at night, but we think that this will be a great spot for us to recover from the admittedly mostly self-inflicted stresses of the last month and focus on the things we enjoy once again.

We were so fortunate to have help from friends and family when it came time to move. Truly, I don't know what we would've done without them. I thought I would have a difficult time saying goodbye to our old house, but as things came down from the walls, books came off the shelves, and nick knacks were put into boxes, I realized that it wasn't home anymore. Through it all, I knew that it was merely a "thing," and that a house is not a home, but rather home is what, where, and with whom we choose to make it. The box itself is of little consequence. I was a little sad to say goodbye to my studio, the garden, and our newly finished kitchen, but again, I realize these are just things - and all things that can be replaced in time and in another location.

A little piece of the yard. I think it will be even better as the foliage begins to come in next month.

When I walked into the new place on moving day, with two friends at my side, they were excited about our new space. I couldn't help but think they were merely appeasing me as the house smelled musty, surfaces were dirty, and I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach about all of it (not because of the house, but simply because of all that had transpired so quickly). When we entered the backyard, one stated that she knew where the summer BBQ parties are going to be held this year, and commented on very much liking the yard... Which, frankly, just made me smile - both outside and in. Whether known to them or not, those little encouraging comments throughout all of this have made all of it so much easier. When I had minor breakdowns about the very real possibility of having to give up one (or more) of our dogs, they offered hugs and suggestions - or just listened to me cry about giving up part of the family (as a side note, I am happy to report that all pets have and will remain with us).

As we finished taking all of our things from one house to the other, it seemed fitting that the last load to transfer was done by bicycle. My trusty Hillborne was loaded up with his trailer and I carried over the last remaining items - two of which just so happened to be our dog waste bucket and shovel. It's funny the looks one gets when riding down the road with what seems like non-typically transported-by-bike items. I wondered what others thought I was doing as the combination of items could easily be construed as being up to no good. I couldn't help but giggle a bit as I rode down the road, poop bucket strapped to the top of my trailer, and severe head winds blasting me, leaving (I'm certain) a trail of stench for anyone coming behind me. "That's right," I thought as I pedaled toward our new home, "leave all the shit behind you because you're on to better things."  I arrived feeling grateful, blessed, and loved by those around us, and I don't think I would've wanted the last trip to be any other way.

Life is starting to settle in now. It's amazing that so much transpired in a matter of less than two weeks. Hours often felt like days and days moved forward like weeks, especially with so much left to the unknown. As quickly as the stress and madness entered, it seems to have dissipated just as quickly, and for that I am beyond thankful. Who knows what is coming down the road, but for the time being we are grateful to have a place to lay our heads, our family together, and a reminder that even though we can't always control every little moment or situation, life is what we make of it. If this is the most difficult time of 2014, I will happily accept it and move on to what awaits us on the other side of this event.

Slow Ride Reflections

A couple of weeks ago, a friend asked if I would want to go on a bike ride sometime with her. I was excited about the opportunity because I don't actually have many friends who ride. She shared that she often gets left behind when her husband wants to go, and just wanted to have a fun ride. She's fairly new to cycling (she's had a bike for a couple of decades, but hasn't really been on her bike until this summer), but I have to admit I was thrilled to have an opportunity to ride with someone. When I hadn't heard from her by the end of the following week, I decided to send a message asking if she still wanted to get together for a ride. She responded by stating that she was ready for the following day, and because we are both involved in kickboxing we decided to meet up after class and go for our joy ride.

As we were leaving class she said, "You know, I'm kind of intimidated to ride with you." I laughed (Mostly because I was thinking, "Who in the world would be intimidated to ride with me, the snail of the cycling world?"), but she continued on. "I was telling my husband that you just rode a century and he said, 'She's not going to want to ride with you!'" I assured her that I was in no hurry to get anywhere and that I actually enjoy a nice, leisurely ride around town - it just rarely seems to happen when I'm training for a specific goal. She had a couple of questions about her bike and shoes, so we chatted as we started to ride.

The pace was leisurely and enjoyable as we headed out on a multi-use trail. We spoke about cycling, spouses, art (she happens to be a great local artist), and kickboxing. It was a short, but lovely ride.

As I dropped my friend at her home and rode on alone, I reflected on what cycling has become for me, and the reality that the cycling world has forever changed because of a cruiser bicycle given as a gift just a few years ago - well, about 4 years ago, to be more exact. I am amazed at the transformation that has taken place and I sometimes wonder who I have become. Four years ago, I wouldn't have touched anything that wasn't an extremely upright bicycle. Three years ago I couldn't dream of owning a bike made of anything other than steel. Two years ago I wouldn't have thought I'd be using drop bars on a regular basis, and a year ago I wouldn't have believed I'd ever be riding a century, let alone two within a matter of weeks of each other.

I have wondered in the past if it's possible to go back and have the same feelings I once had about a particular bicycle... even going so far as to re-purchase a bike I once loved (I've done this twice, actually - because I'm apparently not bright enough to figure it out at the first time). It only ended in disappointment because I found the bike no longer met my needs in my shifting style-of-cycling world. I don't believe that one world is better than the other, but more that things have just changed and adjusted. Some would say I've "evolved" into a "real" cyclist, but I think I was always a cyclist who just preferred one style of riding over another. There have been changes, certainly, and I'm sure they will continue as life moves forward, but I definitely don't feel more evolved than I did at the start of my cycling journey.

For now, I'm enjoying the opportunity to engage in what to some may seem like opposite types of riding, knowing that through all of the changes, ultimately I remain the same person. I'd still rather just cruise around town at slow speeds, checking out the world going by, running errands, and enjoying the seasons, but perhaps now I'm just a bit more game for a long road ride, or a quicker self-race to see what I can accomplish. Whether a slow or fast ride, on a cruiser or a lightweight road bike, I'm happy to have gone through the journey I've experienced and wouldn't change it for anything.

First Friday at Tennyson's Tap

Last night we went to the art exhibition at Tennyson's Tap, as well as checking out the local art on Tennyson Street in Denver. It was a strange feeling to have a piece of art hanging somewhere than in the closet of my art space, or in our living room at home.

I, unfortunately, forgot the camera, so all I had was the camera phone, in a poorly lit space, so the photos are not fabulous. Our friend, Will, who had come along as support, sold me out about 15 seconds after we arrived on site. I had gone to greet the curator of the show when I turned around to, "Her! There she is. She did it!" and a gentleman asking about my "barn" painting.

I was a bit shocked (and unprepared) to be asked questions about the painting, but I think I did okay, considering that I am always highly unsure of what to say about my work. I have to admit, it was pretty cool to see a painting of mine hanging up in a show though. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all.

A live musician was playing while we were there, which definitely made the mood more lively, and also relaxed (which is great for me as I fear the typical gallery scene and its formalities). There were also some other interesting pieces to see, some of which I hadn't viewed prior to the show. It was definitely fun to check out the work of others as well. Overall, a good experience, and again, if anyone is in the Denver area, the exhibit will be up until mid-April, so I would highly recommend coming in to check it out.

Trapped!

One of the best things about bicycles is that they always start in the morning, they never leave you abandoned because the engine isn't functioning, and despite a couple of possible hiccups, there really isn't much that can go wrong on a bike.

Today, I ventured into town by car to visit some local second hand thrift/furniture stores. We've been looking for a couple of tables for the living room, and they seem to be more difficult to find than I thought they would be. In full anticipation of actually finding something that would work, I decided to take the CRV into town for my hunt. I was a bit early arriving to the first store, and I saw that there was an open house just up the street, so I decided to go ahead and take a peek while I waited for the store to open. For the record, the house was adorable, and even had an outdoor pool (a dream of mine for some time).

Outdoor pool and pool house at the Open House

All was going well, and I went to leave when... my car wouldn't start. Ugh! Seriously? I know I expect a lot from my car. I drive it 70ish miles several times a week during my commute back and forth to classes, and it does have quite a few on it, but I've never had any problems at all.  Suddenly, I found myself quite upset with the car, as though it had done something wrong. The reality is, things go bad and wear out on cars. Batteries go dead, alternators need to be replaced, and after a long life it can even become necessary to possibly replace the engine or transmission.

As I sat in the car debating what to do (since Sam is away for the day, helping out his father with some manual labor projects), I went blank. "Do I really not have anyone to call?" I asked myself. Of course, I do, but in the moment I felt alone and trapped, which reminded me that bicycles don't do this to us. As long as we can fix a flat (which I'm working on learning to do with better ease, and with more confidence), or put a chain back on the derailleur, there isn't a lot to go wrong with a bike. I also realized, as I began the 9 mile walk home, that I wouldn't have the opportunity to fully appreciate this autumn season that will soon disappear if the car hadn't decided not to start.

Autumn's beautiful colors

Trees losing their leaves

Autumn leaves in the evergreen ground plants

While the camera phone is unable to do the colors justice, the sights were simply beautiful to behold. I even was able to watch a few bicyclists as they were riding to wherever their destinations might be.

Man on bicycle waits to cross at the signal

My one concern about walking the distance home though was that I really wasn't in the appropriate foot attire for such a hike home.

Sandals aren't really great for walking several miles of highway home

Fortunately, I was able to reach a friend who was cleaning at home and said she'd be right over to pick me up.

Though she looks a bit upset with me here, Lin was actually quite happy to take me home,
and believe me, my feet were entirely grateful!

So, while I wait semi-patiently to find out more specifically what has gone wrong with my trusty steed, I am reminded that there are good friends in this life, that autumn brings some gorgeous colors that shouldn't be missed, and that tennis shoes are an absolute must in a car that is aging and has many, many miles on it.

Friends, Part II

After venting my frustrations with our current living situation and past friendships yesterday, I feel that it is important to continue with my thoughts on friendship, if for no other reason, than to know that there is hope for the future.

As I was saying, I believe in loyal, long-term friendships. While I realize that isn't always the case, it's nice to know that there are people in the world we can depend on when we're down, when we want to have a good time, and when we just need someone who 'gets' us as an individual. I am a strange cookie though, and strange in my own strangely odd way. On the surface, I suppose I seem normal enough, but rest assured, I am different when it gets down to it. A bit about me:
1. I'm 34 years old
2. Married, with no children (and no real desire to ever have them, though I do think they can be fun)
3. Three dogs
4. We live in an area full of young families with multiple children, who have very different focus
5. I am a non-traditional, fine arts student at a college in Denver, but don't currently have a job
6. I had a 'real' career (prior to my second college round) in Human Resources, but also worked in Insurance and Higher Education (P.R. mostly)
7. I love bicycles (if that hasn't become abundantly clear) and want to ride whenever possible
8. Though I am a friendly person, I am hesitant to share a lot about myself with new people immediately (introverted, basically)
9. I am up for almost any adventure or new activity with little- to no- advance notice
10. I enjoy attending live sporting events, specifically football and basketball (though I am game for others)
11. I love music, though I likely couldn't tell you any musician/band names off the top of my head that weren't popular at least two to four decades ago
12. At heart, I am an earth-loving, animal-obsessed, always-wanting-to-roam, sometimes-cranky-for-no-reason, analytical-on-every-subject-that-matters-to-me, crazy, creative person
13. I believe in respecting all people, from all orientations, backgrounds, and religious beliefs - even if I don't necessarily agree with another's view point
14. I live a pretty tame, mellow, every day existence, and am totally okay with that (save for those spur of the moment adventures!)
And, despite all of these things I have listed, it could never fully describe the person I am. These are all, basically, surface items that don't really tell another human what this particular person is all about. Sure, it may give a sense of where I am in life presently, but what about things like knowing how I'll react when someone tells me that I have to do something, or knowing my true thoughts/feelings when I say that I don't have to get an 'A' in a class, and that I'm fine with that 89%?

I ask these questions because I recently reached the decision to start browsing friendship Craigslist ads. I was a little sad and weirded out to read some of them, and also wondered if there is any hope of finding true friends in adulthood. When reading the ads, many of them sound like advertisements one would put out to find a boyfriend/girlfriend/more-than-friends-relationship kind of thing. Though they state specifically in their posting that they are only looking for friends, the requirements some of the women desire seem entirely specific, and not really necessary for a friendship, at least to me.

For example, do you really need a thin friend? Yes, this was a specific requirement, or an alluded to necessity in more than one of the postings. How shallow can a person be? It also reminded me of a recent posting in which I vented frustrations with some people assuming because an individual is overweight, s/he is therefore out of shape. I'm totally down for a hike, a walk, a bike ride, etc, and not being thin doesn't take me away from that love of the outdoors. Are they just looking for people to pick up guys with? If that's the case, I'd think they'd want the larger friend with them because wouldn't most guys naturally be drawn to the smaller woman's svelte shape, rather than the bigger friend? I mean, it's not like I'm hideous or anything, but com'on, really?

See, totally adorable, right?

And then there are the requests for tattoo-free friends. Okay, I get it. There's a stereotype that goes along with tattoos, but haven't we reached a day when we can move on from the surface of someone's skin? I'm not a bar-hopping, drugged out freak, with no aspirations... I just happen to be tattooed. For goodness sake, I was the human resources representative for over a hundred employees, and at no point in time was I ever made aware of anyone fearing speaking to me about their issues, because they knew I'd do my best to resolve anything I could, or at very minimum, let them vent their frustrations to me. Seriously, I'm not a bad person just because I happen to have tattoos, and for that matter, I'm just not a bad person. Weird, yes. Bad, no. But, even weird is relative.

One tattooed arm (and there are more, though these are the most visible)

Making friends in my classes has turned out to be more challenging than I expected as well. While I have had friends of all ages, and enjoy them all for different reasons, I have to face the fact that a 19 year old, fresh out of high school, probably has little in common with me at this juncture in life. While we may hold similar interests in art, that subject is probably where our likenesses end. I'm not looking for someone who is me, or is exactly like me (in fact, that would be highly boring!), but I think there are core things that should be in place in order to have a lasting friendship of any sort. Whether the person is 18 or 80, there needs to be something that keeps the relationship together. It's also part of the interest in having various kinds of friends. They each bring something different, a new perspective, a nudge in a direction when needed, etc. Real friendships are a necessary part of life, otherwise it becomes far too easy to be completely self-absorbed and only see issues from one side.

Another factor is, without a doubt, our location. We live in a city (and not even in the actual city) that is full of families whose focus is soccer practice every Saturday and getting the kids to bed on time. While I don't object to friends having children, it makes it difficult to get together with any sort of regularity, particularly if one wants to participate in any activities that are non-child friendly. Even the local bike night (which I was highly excited to learn about this past spring), is densely populated by small children. It makes a fun bike night a bit more challenging, simply because everyone has concern for the children and keeping them safe. Not that kids shouldn't be the primary focus when there are issues of safety, but it's not exactly what I have in mind when I think of a bike night ride.

I have been fortunate to meet a few people semi-locally with whom I have formed a bond in recent months, and time will tell where those bonds leads us. Whether they will be life long friends, or friends-for-now remains to be seen, and honestly, I'm open to both. All I can do is be ready to explore the friendships, attempt to be a genuine me, and see where the journey takes us. After all, isn't the point of life to enjoy the journey, and not constantly dream of the destination?

Friends, Part I

Sam and I have resided in Colorado for approximately seven years, six months, and two weeks - approximately. We have lived in our current city for approximately seven years, three months, and in this specific house for seven years and three days. I remember the day we moved in. The carpet smelled new (because it was), the paint was fresh on the walls, and we were excited to get about furnishing this new place we'd call home. When we purchased the home, neither of us expected to still be living here seven plus years later, but we knew we'd make it home for the time being. Almost immediately, we realized all the things that were lacking in the home, and soon thereafter discovered the mistakes we'd made in purchasing in this specific 'hood. We started looking at other developments in the area and slowly branched out to looking at houses in the Denver area and even beyond. I think we'd both say we've seen just about every neighborhood within a 35 mile radius (this is of course an exaggeration, but it feels as though we've seen them all). We told ourselves after a couple of years of living in our current home we'd be able to sell and move on to another area, just as we had done when we left California for Colorado.

Our house, just before we moved in

Seven years later, we're still in the same house, in the same neighborhood, complaining nearly daily (at least I do) that we just want out. It happened for various reasons. Though we bought the absolute cheapest house we could find in 2003, it was a new neighborhood, in the middle of nowhere, and we were convinced by Sam's father that we just 'had to buy' because we could 'always sell' at a later time. Things changed. The builder nearly left without completing the neighborhood (though, thankfully, they did at least finish all the builds - but that created its own set of problems, including abandoned houses, foreclosures, etc), the market crashed everywhere (causing even more foreclosures and abandonment), and eventually, I went back to college (which, I don't think has caused anyone to abandon their house). These things combined created a situation that basically trapped us in this house.

Outside of house, seven years later

Now we have neighbors on all sides, we've repainted the interior several times to find just the right colors (though I still haven't found them, to be perfectly honest), and redecorated more times than I can count. It made sense though. When we moved in, I was 27 years old. It was exciting to have a new house and to have all these projects to work on. Now, in my {gulp} mid-thirties, I suppose I realize how impetuous the whole deal was, and that there are other aspects of life I'm more concerned with than the house... such as bicycles, and being able to ride most places I need to go.

Stuart and G.E., riding through Roosevelt Park, early Autumn 2009

It's not necessarily that I've changed the core of who I am, but my interests have shifted over the last near-decade, as I believe they should. When we moved into the house, I also had a core group of friends who I had held dear for the decade and a half prior to the move, and maintained those friendships well into the ownership of the new house. They all lived several states away, but I knew that I had friends and could visit them, or they me at any point in time. They knew my weird quirks, my entire background and family, and I knew that nothing would ever tear us apart (now INXS' Never Tear Us Apart is running through my head - great). You'll notice though, that I said had a core group of people.

Things happen in life that we sometimes believe never will. At times, those are bad decisions or outcomes, other times they are good, but in the case of this particular core group of people, I believe that we just outgrew each other. How can you not when you've known each other since you were pre-teens and young teenagers?  There were just unhealthy aspects to the relationships, and rather than delving into a deep discussion about what actually transpired, I suppose I can summarize it all by saying that, though I believe the friendships were true and real for the duration of that period in life, they reached a cut off point and it was time  to move on.

Facing the road ahead

What I realized though is that through all of my fussing over the house and trying to make it the way we wanted, looking for new houses to live in (even though we knew we couldn't actually sell our house), and depending on these long-distance relationships with friends, I didn't bother to make friends locally or to actually find people with whom I share common interests in our area. Sure, I made the occasional friend/acquaintance through work, but I was never fully vested in any of these friendships for one reason or another. Some of these reasons were valid, others were not. When the original group of friends were gone, I suddenly felt alone, and wondered what I had done and where this was all taking me. I have believed my entire life that friends are family, and I believe whole-heartedly in having and maintaining loyal friendships. But what exactly makes a friend, and how do we find them when we're no longer forced to be together in classrooms and on playgrounds? This is the daunting reality of being an adult who doesn't fall into the 'typical' suburban (or even urban, really), thirty-something demographic.

Ride to the Auto Parts Store

Things are completely crazy for the next few days while I attempt to get everything done that is coming to completion. At least I'm feeling a bit better about abstraction. Last night, a small group of us decided to go to First Friday in Denver's Arts District to check out the sights and to get a feel for current ideas and art work. While in the car driving, I realized that my passenger side headlight was out, and though I knew I had a bulb at home, there was nothing I could do about it at the time. In addition, my interior light has been out for some time now, and since I spend a great deal of time driving in the dark from campus, we thought it would be a good idea to replace it. Since I was letting paint dry this afternoon, Sam and I decided to ride over to the auto parts store to get the interior bulb that was needed.

Waiting outside for Sam to purchase a bulb

I realize there is a bit of irony in riding our bicycles to an auto parts store, but if you consider that most people who are there are purchasing something for a car that isn't working, or has some kind of broken part, it doesn't seem that off the wall to me to be riding a bicycle to the auto parts store. Of course, there are no bicycle racks, so I amused myself by watching the traffic go by and admiring the bicycles.

Surly and Pashley sittin' in a tree, er, sittin' on cement

I feel as though the Hillborne has taken over as the most ridden bicycle in the house, but I do enjoy the Pashley too. I also realized how heavy it is today while we were riding. Good for building leg muscles, definitely. While waiting for Sam to return, I also noticed that I managed to get two goat heads stuck in the rear tire. Ugh!

Two goat heads (one barely visible lower on the tire)

I am such a magnet for these critters, especially this time of year when all the weeds are dying off and these thorns just end up in the shoulder where we're riding. I pulled them out, so I could test the durability of the Schwalbe Marathon tires.  As I was pulling them out, I looked up at the sky and was in complete awe of the strange cloudiness that had formed around us. It was beautiful and eerie all at once.

Cloudy Autumn skies quickly formed this afternoon

Sam finally managed to make it back outside, despite being told by two different assistant managers that they 'couldn't' ring him up.

Sam has bulbs!

We headed home, shaking our heads but laughing about the ineptitude of some workers. The ride home was pleasant, as we pedaled along, both of still being able to wear shorts during this gorgeous time of year.

Riding home (that nice bruise on the left leg from falling on the Hillborne seems to be healing nicely though)

After arriving home, my tires seemed to be in good shape, but unfortunately, Sam had also picked up a couple of goat heads, and his tires didn't fair so well. As soon as he pulled them out, the air came wooshing out quite audibly. I felt bad, but at the same time am grateful that I can trust the thorn protection of the Marathon tires. I think the extra money is well worth it to have the extra protection. And now, I have exterior and interior lights once again. I am very happy that I'll at least have a way to see my attackers in the late night parking lot now.

Home Hunting in Denver

Today began an exhaustive search for Will's new home. When Sam's friend moved here last September from South Carolina (via a year long stay over in Oregon), he wanted to live the urban life in an apartment and have things within walking distance. Seemed reasonable to us. Now, he's in the market to purchase his own home rather than renting, and we decided to help him out by being the annoying tag-a-longs as we searched out various areas. Will's brilliant idea is to find a single story duplex, buy it, rent us one half, while we in turn rent out our house (since there is no way we can sell our current house in this market). If this were to actually take place, we would want the new home to be in a place that is in an area that has a lot of things within walking/riding distance, otherwise, there would be no point in moving.

But, before the big search got under way, I had to stop and pick up some art supplies, and since we were in Denver anyway, might as well go to one of the best little shops around, especially if one is looking for paper (which I was).

Kozo's store front: small, unassuming, but great people inside

After picking up supplies I needed (for the work I should've been at home completing), we were all hungry, so we stepped across the street to a little pub for some lunch.

Turkey wrap, with some all too greasy (though good) fries.

 We sucked down some water, people watched from the outdoor patio, and the boys had a good time being silly (particularly Will).

Empty water glass: More please!

Will being weird, Sam hiding his disgust

Having the opportunity to be in Denver and feel like a part of the community is always nice. I know I spend a lot of time there anyway when in class, but I don't ever get to experience the city because I'm in my little protective bubble and I stay focused on the tasks at hand while there, only departing the art building to head home.

People bicycling, walking, and just enjoying city living

It's easy to see why people want to live close to things. Accessibility, convenience, and enjoying life is so much more fun when you aren't driving tons of miles to get to where you're going. After a nearly day-long hunt for the perfect area, I don't think we are any closer to a find for Will, but I did realize that I absolutely don't want to stay where we are any longer than we must, as ditching the cars for two-wheeled, or two-legged transportation is so much more appealing!

Belated B-day Brunch

It wasn't exactly 'brunch' per se, really more of an early lunch, but I had a whole "B" thing going, so I went with it. A friend of mine and I decided that rather than doing birthday gifts for each other, we would just figure out a time to do a lunch or dinner together, as that's really more important than any material things we can get. The problem has been working out a schedule to do so, but today the day finally arrived. Despite my desperate need to get work done, I decided to ride over to meet with Kelly for a little gab time before she started off on a mini vacation and I headed home to do all of the work that's been put off this week.

Pashley is ready to roll!

Even though Sam and I did a ride on the Hillborne/Surly bicycles this morning, the meeting up spot was so close that I just couldn't bring myself to drive, particularly because it's such a beautiful day. The Pashley waited patiently, while I thought about whether or not I was forgetting anything (apparently, I'm an angry thinker!).

Pondering, while holding up the Pashley

Once I realized that I was good to go, we were off and rolling for our quick ride to lunch, errr... brunch.

It's hard to take pictures of yourself while riding a bicycle, especially with a DSLR! I don't know how all these folks in web-land are so coordinated. I managed not to fall off the bicycle though, nor did I drop the camera, so all is right with the world.

I would just like to say how frustrating it is to go to meet up with someone and not have bike racks available. Though I believe it is a requirement for new builds in Longmont to actually install a certain number of racks, in Firestone (adjacent to Longmont) it is not a requirement, apparently, so I was forced to lock my girl up to a metal fence... so unbecoming of a lady!  After munching on lunch and chatting for a while, it was time to go, and we got so busy with talking I didn't get to take any pictures. {sigh} Well, life will move on, and the Pashley was happy to be released from her metal prison once again.

And, we're ready to go home

Happy Thursday to all, and a yummy and happy belated birthday to me! Now, seriously, I must get my work done.

WARNING: Does Not Play Well with Heat

Today's bicycle adventure took me off to visit with a friend in town for lunch. One of the funniest things of note for me, was the fact that the friend knew I'd be riding, rather than driving. It can be amusing when the norm becomes what used to be abnormal behavior. Regardless, I set off on the newly acquired hooptie bicycle (as he has affectionately been nicknamed) to meet up for lunch. While normally I'd prefer the Pashley because I'd be able to dress appropriately for lunch and take my time, I have become enthralled with this ride and thought I'd see if I could make it into town quicker, as well as just wanting to take it for a bit of a longer ride. As I started to leave the house, my sixth sense started to kick in and I questioned whether I should be riding in the 90 degree summer temps, with no cloud cover in sight. I twinge set through me and I thought that perhaps I should skip the ride.  But, stubborn woman that I am, I decided to just go for it.

One important fact to mention about the Raleigh is that he has no cage for a water bottle. As I was leaving I thought I should take water, but I had no idea where I would carry it. So, I opted not take along water, thinking it would be fine and I'd drink some water when I arrived at my final destination. Unfortunately, about a mile and a half from my final destination, I began experiencing signs of heat stroke, which really scared me. I've had heat strokes in the past (yes that was plural) and I've been told that it can make one more sensitive to the heat. Today, I found that to be true, and had to call Sam to fetch me on my way to lunch with Linda.

After a dramatic afternoon ride, it was nice to see a friendly face and have a chance to quiz Lin on her upcoming interview. What are ex-HR friends for, right? So, now we've learned our lesson: always take water on bicycle rides during hot summer days. Thanks to Sam, I now have a cage to PUT a water bottle in, so I hope to not experience this again any time in the near future.

Lunch in Longmont

Today I went to meet Linda for a leisurely lunch on the other side of town. Now, that may not seem like a big deal, but when riding my bicycle on the highway for several miles to even get into what is "really" considered town, it becomes quite an adventure. One of these days I'll learn that it doesn't actually take me two hours to go 10 miles, but I still seem to leave awfully early because I think it will take me forever to get there. I'm always fascinated by the lack of interest on the highway portion of the ride (which is most of it), so I thought I'd take some pictures today, to remind myself that it's a pretty incredible place to live. My first real sight to see is a bridge that always has water flowing (unless it's frozen).

I think it's such a beautiful spot with the river flowing, the houses behind, and even had a flock of birds that kept dipping by as well. There's also this really cool pond that sits right in front of a little neighborhood. It's just such a restful and peaceful place. One of those places you just want to sit up a lawn chair and hang out for awhile. At this particular stopping spot, you can also see the very edge of town and the mountains in the background.

It's easy to start taking the mountains for granted because we see them every day, but they pretty much stay snow covered until the end of August or so, and even though it was mid-70s today, it's kind of funny to know that snow is very close by. One of the luxuries of living on the Front Range of Colorado, I suppose.

I really just can't get enough of them. I'm thinking about doing some paintings.. not necessarily naturalistic or photo realistic work, but using these as a starting point. We shall see, as next week, I start my plan to have some sort of schedule for painting this summer. Anyway, so the ride at this point is getting to the edge of town, and I always think it's interesting how fast the cars move. You can see the edge of the 65 MPH sign on the right, but people speed past, easily going 70+ MPH. I suppose I should be wearing a helmet on these parts, but I still believe that if I do get hit, I'm not going to survive it, regardless of whether I have a helmet on or not.

I refocused and headed back on my mission to get to lunch with Lin. It's funny how easily I lose focus though, and even felt the need to try to capture a shot of me taking photos in my bicycle mirror.

I made it to our lunch meeting spot with about an hour to spare, even with all my reckless regard for time and constant photo taking. It was nice to have the camera on hand, but I also have to say that it was a pain to carry the extra weight, once I arrived at my destination, as I brought all the lenses with me, for some ungodly reason. I did finally make it to lunch though, and we had a nice long chat about everything you can pretty much think of, so by the time I was heading back home, it was nearing "getting off" time for the work folks. Always a joy to pass people in their cars as they just sit in traffic. Gotta love bicycles!