about getting from point A to point B in the most interesting ways possible

If you're a large woman in America, your whole life is an opportunity to feel self-conscious, embarrassed, resentful and way too big. You can hide in the corner or on the couch, you can go to therapy, or you can put on your lycra bike shorts and get out there and move.
—Jayne Williams, Slow Fat Triathlete

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September 30, 2005

bike breakfast permalink

walk - 09/28/2005
Benson bubblers - walk - 09/28/2005
the stairs into the Keller blocks - walk - 09/28/2005
Lovejoy Fountain - walk - 09/28/2005
deadly hyrax - walk - 09/28/2005
walk - 09/28/2005
I got back just a little bit ago from having the bike commute challenge breakfast. 10 of the 17 bicyclists came, which I thought was really good. I meant to take a picture of the spread, but as usual, I was so caught up in the preparations that when I finally had a chance to sit down, I forgot about taking pictures. Even in spite of doing most of the shopping and prep last night, I forgot some things, like a knife and cutting board to cut bread, or a knife to cut up apples.

In spite of forgetting some things, the bakery not having some things I wanted, my running late, etc, etc, people seemed really thrilled about the breakfast. They seemed impressed that there was coffee, and OJ. That there was fruit and yogurt and hardboiled eggs (and salt & pepper), as well as scones and rolls and croissants and bread (since there was no baguette or ficelle in the bakery). It was so gratifying, how thrilled they were.

I was afraid it would be me, sitting alone in the room, but everyone came and hung out, talked about our commutes and our challenges, quite happily and excitedly. Several people who didn't bike in today (it's raining, dontchaknow) even brought their bike helmets!

I had approached our HR department about offering some sort of token endorsement, but got no response. I can't say I was surprised, though it really seemed to anger some of my challengers. I ended up spending a pile of money on this, but I feel so good about it. It was worth every penny.
...
So I feel 180 degrees better than yesterday. Today, the fact that someone had gone through my desk, stolen money and a computer, and had strewn my stuff all over the place, seems far away. Or much farther away than yesterday, at least.

The last couple nights, I've been so tired that I haven't remembered my dreams. Or nightmares, since that's all that I'm remembering these days. Now that the adrenaline and coffee is wearing off, I'm feeling pretty worn out. It's been a draining week.

I've been relying heavily on my iP0d this week, and have been stuck on just a couple things. There's a new JuniorSenior song (Taking my Time) that features the ladies from the B52s that I totally cannot get enough of. They (JuniorSenior) somehow manage to incorporate their joyology into a song about dating uncertainity - I don't get it, maybe it's part of not having English as their first language. But I love it.

I've just stumbled on the New Pornographers, and I have become an addict there too. I just got Twin Cinema (dig that IMDB ripoff website!), and I love it. I listen to it over and over again. I just saw the video for Use It this morning and now fragments are crashing around in my head.

There's a song off Liz Phair's new album which is just driving me nuts, Stars and Planets, and a They Might Be Giants song off the Brain Candy soundtrack, and so I just keep cycling through these. I'm bound to get sick of them at some point, but, who knows when.

Posted at September 30, 2005

Comments

i know what you mean about HR endorsement/support (or lack thereof). i tried to get our HR department to sponsor last year's (dangling the possibility of the corporate logo on the sponsorship list) - or at least pitch in for some special tee-shirts for the challengers. something. anything. but no. the first year, i bought little trinkets, but the last couple, i've just brought home-baked goodies. (sadly, this year, everyone's on one kind of diet or another.)

it's so different than when i was at sucked-up-by-1bm-company. there, we had such great support during the challenge: tee shirts and treats. this in addition to the year-round support of a locked bike room and on-site showers! (although, i really can't complain too loudly - i get gym membership and a "parking allowance" that i use for my bike locker.)

Posted by: tszuj at September 30, 2005 2:27 PM

Glad you were able to move past the theft. I'm still mad about someone breaking into my car 15 years ago. Grrrrrrr!

Posted by: Jon in Michigan at October 3, 2005 11:09 AM