Restless Sunday

I've been up since about 7:30 and have been antsy ever since. Did some writing this AM, fed the kitties--terribly exciting. Found myself wanting to get out of the house but had no idea what to do or where to go. And then I thought: You know, you have a bicycle that you never use. So I went looking for my bike shorts and a tee shirt. Ultimately the idea formed itself: pack a backpack with a blanket, a picnic lunch and a book and go ride down to the Ballard locks. So I'm in the riding clothes and am packing the backpack. I haven't ridden my bicycle in something like two years. The tires will certainly need air. I've never ridden over the Ballard Bridge before and am a little nervous about it. But if I manage this, it will be exercise and time in the sun and something different. So this is good. So...we'll see what happens.

::twitch twitch::

Bicycle riding: Notes to self

Tires filled. Helmet fits. Bike still a little taller for me than it ought to be, even with seat adjustment. Since it does not appear I will be getting any taller, must either adjust to the height or consider trading in pretty white-and-gold bike for a better fit. Am attached to pretty white-and-gold bike. Made the mistake of naming it when I acquired it. Her name is Patience, because she waits for me.

Naming the bike was a bad idea.

Other notes: Still know how to balance, how to breathe, what setting to adjust speed and gears to for personal comfort. Right knee hurts. This is a problem. Must find exercises to strengthen knee with a five-year-old history of Issues.

Not ready for hills. Did two hills today. Not ready for hills. They're doable but...ouch.

Didn't get to Ballard. Barely got out of Interbay. 'Sokay. Riding back and forth along the canal was lovely.

When I stopped, I coudn't spread out my blanket because the grass was full of goose poop.

When I sat on a bench to eat my sandwich, I was stalked by Canadian geese.

I'm getting into the shower now. Still convinced they're out to get me.

Day of exercise and snoozing

Spent the afternoon with mikigarrison at Discovery Park hiking up and down the well-marked trails, then stopping for something cold to drink at Corporate Coffee Behemoth. What a lovely afternoon, even though we never got to really see the ocean as was our desire. This desire was mainly foiled by my knee, which complained of walking down hills. I got to see water this AM (see prior entry re: riding along the canal), so I don't feel too bad about it.

Mainly, then, today was all about exercise and snoozing, because when I wasn't on the bike or on the trail, Merlin's Feline Nap Rays lured me to the horizontal position. The Nap Rays are strong with that one. (See icon; can't you feel the Nap Rays?) Part of me feels like I should have been UP! and PRODUCTIVE! The rest of me feels like, hey, it's Sunday, it's warm, I've been out in the sun doing muscle-powered activity. Snoozing is an acceptable way to spend any part of the day not doing that stuff.

So suddenly, here it is, 7:20 PM, and I'm thinking chicken and pasta. Tomorrow evening I will almost certainly be thinking about grocery shopping.

Seven business days left under the current contract at Large Software Company in Redmond. Part of me is really looking forward to the time off. Part of me is really sad to be going. Such, however, is the way of things. And so it goes.

For the record: I heart the internets

I'm researching a story. The internets, bless them, are full of exactly the sort of kooks, freaks and conspiracy theorists I need to build the magical structure in this piece. I mean, they've done some of my work for me. It's brilliant, far more brilliant than I could ever some up with myself. And if I mine their ideas for my work, maybe someday they'll read said work and exclaim, "See? It's true! We were right all along!"

Which would be fabulous. And kind of hilarious, frankly.