joyride

Ahh, it's summer! I've taken the bike out of storage and brought it in for a tune-up. It's been a couple years since I've used my beloved green bicycle, I think subconsciously I had compartmentalized it with a different part of my life. However, it was one of my greatest joys in the past and nothing says that fun has to stay in the past. So, yippee! I will soon be whizzing along!

I have to admit, however, the summer was not the motivation for bring out the bike. The first impetus was vanity.

I was slightly horrified (though I shouldn't have been surprised) at how much, um, chunkier I've become in the last year. I guess it's a sign of a happy marriage? Well, I know I am not morbidly obese but I'd still like to be a little less. It's bound to be healthier, anyway, which leads to my second bike-dusting reason.

And my second reason is that I was told I had a vitamin D deficiency! You know, the vitamin you get from the sun? When I told this to my sister she said, "What, you never go outside?" Uh, no. It's been winter, I live in New England and I'm an author/illustrator which means I stay inside staring at a computer or sit in a studio all day. Obviously, I don't go outside...which is why I am vitamin D deficient!

So, I'm counting on my green bike to save me. And even if it doesn't, at least I'll have fun.

merry thanksgiving!

Thanks giving was surprisingly balmy at Chez Grace, so with my parents in town, Ki-Ki and I decided to take advantage of the good weather by going for a bike ride. This took some doing, as my dad has not been on a bike for over 40 years and my mom absolutely refused to even mount.

ButI guess riding a bike is like "riding a bike." My Dad certainly proved that, by whizzing on the bike path proudly showing his one-handed technique.

We even made it to Spy Pond, took some father-daughter bonding photos,

and sister-bonding photos.

After which we returned home, where my mom (despite our protests) spent the afternoon slaving away on our traditional Thanksgiving dinner: Chinese rice noodles, stir fried vegetables, tea eggs, and the obligatory roasted turkey. The laboring was really unnecessary as all the food could have been prepared quickly as soon as we returned. Well, all except for the the turkey. She insisted on cooking that with hours of oven time-- "American-Style." She felt to do otherwise would be unpatriotic. Personally, I think the pilgrims wouldn't have minded if she had gone on the bike ride instead.

my new ride

I've been searching all summer for an activity that I could enjoy and get me out of the house, because nothing makes me grumpier than realizing that a beautiful day has happened and I've spent it indoors at my desk.

However, running has lost it's appeal (in 90 degrees, forget it!) and walking is to slow (all I do is think about how I have to get back and work). So, the new solution was biking...all I needed was to get a bike.

So I did. And I heart it. Not only is it green and pretty, nothing brings back the wonder of childhood as you whiz downhill, with the wind in your hair. Such a simple pleasure, but priceless.

I was a little disappointed with the boring color of my helmet, so Robert put some pink flames on it to jazz it up. He knew then I'd be more likely to wear it. Since I'm not the most accomplished rider, he's afraid I'll crack my skull. I don't have that fear...the only thing I'm scared of is someone will steal my shiny new bike.