Biting it big time

I fell the crap off my bike this morning. One minute I'm braking, and the next I'm slipsliding across the ground. I don't really know why it happened. Maybe there was gravel - the 'official story' - which has always caused me issues, I *hate* gravel. Maybe it was this new bike I got, which doesn't fit the way the lovely lovely cruiser did - this one's faster, and gearier, and just generally an adjustment. Maybe it was my tired muscles; this is my third day straight of bicycle commuting after a couple of months' hiatus (mostly accidental).

Only about 5 minutes from home, I thought seriously about turning around right there, and pouting home to telecommute or bus, but instead I took a deep breath, checked the bike quickly, adjusted the chain, and was off. Now I have bruises blooming, a little road rash on my leg, and a scraped elbow, but my bike and I are mostly friendly again. That part, the get-up-and-try-again part doesn't come at all easily for me. But bikes and I have always made it up, I don't resent them too long, and they provide such joy, it's ultimately easy to hop on and go again.

Bike month is over, but it's definitely not too late to try bicycle commuting. Take sunscreen, and lots of water, go slow, and track your mileage at No Waste Wednesdays - they're having a contest!

Oh, oh dear (five senses friday)

Well. That was interesting. I appear to have taken an interesting little blog break, quite by accident. I think I'm 2 week-by-week lists behind, as well as, maybe, overall. But it's been a rather bustling 2 weeks.

Seeing

Pictures and pictures of Minter Gardens. I'm certainly not taking 1 picture every day right now, but I took dozens and dozens when Em and I trekked down for a wedding. That's one up there.

Tasting

Cinnamon toast - the special food of the week.

Hearing

The crows nesting in the back alley - I have to be alert for their cawing so as not to be surprised, as one's been swooping at my head.

Smelling

Essential oils (tea tree, for one), as I play once again with home remedies.

Feeling

Summer breezes, finally!

Far to go...

Thinking about it, Thursdays are maybe my favourite day of the week, for real. I love the anticipation of something exciting happening over the weekend, and by Friday, it's usually started to happen (or sometimes, not started). Thursday gives you some time to just sit back and contemplate it happening.

I am hoping this weekend brings with it a chance to ride the Greenway - there's a sponsored ride, and I want to be on it. Also in the works is getting ready for Car-Free day, and, maybe, brunch at one of those crunchy restaurants I'm going to miss.

This fall, I will be going back to school in the first place (city-wise anyhow) that I ever schooled. I am very not sure how I will handle it, but oh, it is exciting (and scary!). That's what I meant by "I like making changes" - I just hate it when others upset my 'delicate balance' but I love overturning it myself, flipping everything over, forcing myself to begin again and again.

I am completely not sure how I'll handle Saskatoon, or how Saskatoon will handle me, but these are the things we find out when we have to, and, thrillingly (terrifyingly) not a moment before.

#4 Things I'll miss about Vancouver

I'm super-excited about my impending move; as much as I hate change, I love moving forward, and making changes. But there are a number of things that I will miss madly when I leave Vancouver (and I'm crossing my fingers I'll come back to these!).

1. Commercial Drive grocery stores

2. Paper-Ya

3. Craft Fairs/Portobello West

4. Bike routes & pretty bike stores

5. The local produce

6. Mountains

7. Skytrain

8. Siegel's (& Solly's)

9. Rain, rain, rain, rain

10. Science World's silhouette

11. Crunchy vegetarian restaurants

12. Washington so close by

13. The people. Definitely.

A list will come later....

I like Ted talks very much. I was rather scared to watch this one, but today's the day for it.

five senses friday

(from here )

Seeing:

Joan (of Arcadia) juggling for her life (cannot find any clip of this one, sadly).

Tasting:

yogourt cake, plain

Hearing:

the hum of the skytrain, and its bells

Smelling:

warm chocolate in hot cocoa, chocolate sauce.

Feeling:

crisp-soft cotton of the duvet cover around my feet

It is raining since this morning (and yesterday, and last week, and forever)

The rain is not stopping. It breaks for a while, but the clouds stay, and then the rain comes back. Truth is, and I'm having to remind myself of this while I pine for a sunny June, I love rain. I long for rubber boots, and a rain slicker (it MUST be a slicker, I think) to go puddle ducking (one of my favourite things when I was younger - yes that's part of where it comes from).

I know I will miss this rain when we make our move, so I'm trying to keep reminding myself how great it can be...

The picture at Camilla's that looks like sun showers.

Ashley G's raindrops.

This little rainstorm.

And if you don't like rainy days so much, some pretty umbrellas to keep you covered.

Waste Less on Wednesday: Biking!

In honour of the much-beloved Bike-to-Work week, and a Wednesday post (where I'm going to try to talk about wasting less, and see where it gets us), here're some lovely bike-related items:

17 Reasons why Bicycles are the Most Popular Vehicle in the World Today

National Bike to Work Day: 7 Tips

I'm not braving the rain this week (I did it in November, when I expected crap weather), but I'm going to be around for: Car-Free Vancouver Day and Velopalooza

And, finally, making me wish I was still in Edmonton, the lovely-sounding Critical Lass ride organized in part by one of my favourite people.

#3 Things I actually like about Mondays (and this one in particular)

1. They signal a new beginning, however small

2. I have "important things" to do out in the world again.

3. They're not Tuesdays or Wednesdays (where things get truly bad).

4. It's a mail day.

5. Monday night television (to be watched later, always).

6. Monday is the 2nd best day for a statutory holiday.

7. Mondays are sometimes holidays.

8. On Mondays, the stores are open for longer than weekends.

9. Monday only happens once a week.

And *this* Monday:

10. The first day of the VACC's Bike to Work Week

11. Rainy days and Mondays don't get this girl down.

12. Pay day!

13. An evening spent with Em after her weekend away.

14. The last day of a May I did *not* love.

15. This list, which is stretching my brain.

five senses friday

(from here )

Seeing:

piles of lovely yarn

Tasting:

salvaged peanuts from the burnt granola

Hearing:

Espace Musique - CBC en francais is becoming loved by the fogies for its perseverance in playing the old-but-great

Smelling:

the coffee in my dirty chais

Feeling:

mist from the seemingly eternally-present rain

Right ON!

Sitting here reading this: http://mightygirl.com/2010/05/19/how-to-write-your-life-list-10-simple-tips-for-a-better-life/ when a co-worker came by and told me that she was inspired to take a course like this: http://www.sfu.ca/wpp/twwbb.htm.

If you're not doing it, why not?

Got the itch

Oh! I spent the whole day day itching, just *itching* - literally. Sitting in my office, it was as though I couldn't get to the source. I have to feel that it's a reflection of my mental state. I had thought that the hurry-up-and-waiting part of my year had come to an end, and I could start to plan.

A couple of events over the past week, though, threw me right back to where I had been: waiting for a sign of what my future will bring. Really, I know that it's not as bad as I feel, and fall should find me back where I need to be - in school. Still, you wouldn't thing that figuring out what city my classroom's going to be in would cause such a fuss. So I'm, back to waiting for a future to (maybe) be decided by someone else.

In the meantime, I'm trying to work on the list, to write it here, and to distract myself with pretty things on the internet. Any ideas?

#2: Sources of Endless Inspiration

Because if I'm going to try this, I'm going to need some major help.

1. This city.

2. And its people.

3. Heck, this country.

4. People I know. And have known.

5. My finished projects.

6. The intentions letter.

7. Magazines that are, and were.

8. Keri Smith's playlist.

9. People who try.

10. Good food.

11. Weekends spent exploring.

12. A good book.

Present on my Birthday

I found this song on my birthday (2 days ago), and have not been able to stop listening (and watching) since. The boat and the halo in particular, you need to watch out for. (via)

28 things in my 29th year

I wrote a letter of intentions for myself at the beginning of the calendar year. Now, at the beginning of my personal year, I'm making a list of things to do (the idea comes from hulaseventy).

1. host a party.

2. photograph one thing every day.

3. take a french class.

4. visit Vancouver Island & the pink bicycle.

5. fly a kite.

6. build a smilebooth-alike.

7. sew a coat.

8. own a pair of fluevogs. or two.

9. visit Montreal.

10. see a symphony.

11. go weekend camping.

12. re-pierce my ears.

13. piece a quilt top.

14. treat myself to a night out.

15. make guerilla art.

16. beat Lego Harry Potter with Em.

17. roast a chicken.

18. Cure my space.

19. find (make, buy, build) a great dress.

20. create an office space (corner, closet, nook) for myself.

21. grow a kitchen garden.

22. have Pride.

23. fill a notebook.

24. learn to patch a tire.

25. bike the Greenway.

26. make 52 lists (from Andrea again).

27. send letters and cards.

28. avoid waste.

Cleaning

Came home from visiting my hometown and many of my families with an outrageous desire to clean. Spring had entered my soul a couple of weeks ago, and it was working in similar paths, clearing out debris, making it impossible for me to tolerate stagnant air, and old projects.

So I came home with a vengeance; a need to sweep, the desire for a clean space overwhelming any sensible post-holiday rest. I feel like this cleaning-out applies, somehow on a larger scale - people, places and things all need a once-over to ensure that they are adding rather than draining what precious little energy I have.

Here's hoping it works.