Bicycles and lemonade

"Bi-cycle, bi-cycle, I want to ride my bi...cy...cle, I want to ride my bike"
-Queen

I got a bicycle! I got a bicycle! Happy summer! Happy Bike Month!

Steve and I got up at 6:30AM and went down to the annual Vintage Bike Sale that runs near the Farmer's Market. I wanted a cruisery bike - one that is visually fun - but also one that I would be willing to ride up a hill day after day on my commute to work. We arrived early enough that we got the pick of the litter!

A 1967 Schwinn Collegiate 10 speed in pristine condition that was hung upside down in someone's garage for about 40 years waiting to become my bicycle. Other people were eyeballing my bike and some were just genuinely complementing it and under their breath saying, "that's a sweet bike!" Steve also found a wheel for his 1960s Huffy.

I rode it home (about 4 miles). This bicycle makes me want to go the pretty, interesting, fun way and I found myself exploring and detouring through neighborhoods. When I arrived Steve made the discovery that a brake pad was slipping out. I've had some lemonade and now we're going to go in search of the parts we need to spend a sunny day on the bike paths of Boulder. And I'll be able to take advantage of Bike to Work Day in style next week.

Clouds at Sunset

“When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator”

-Mahatma Gandhi

Today was a long work day, 12 hours, but the summer solstice is tomorrow, so I still got to enjoy the sunset despite the long day.

Cheers to the last full day of spring!

Wedding Pics

“We all have hometown appetites. Every other person is a bundle of longing for the simplicities of good taste once enjoyed on the farm or in the hometown [he or she] left behind.”

-Clementine Paddleford

Tonight, I had the pleasure to talking to an old neighbor from my high school days, Jill, an older sister to one of my classmates, Randy. She called to get my parent's address to email a graduation announcement - her son Jacob is graduating - to my mom who always had a warm spot for Jacob.

In the process, she caught me up on the good news of Crown Point - marriages, people returning, the baseball team making it to the state quarter finals, adventures and lives of my former peers.

The timing was good as I have been thinking a lot about Crown Point recently. Remembering riding my bike up and down Factoryville Road, Alice and Alex Schinski always on their front porch, the bell that was last rung by my mother and her mischievous childhood buddy Freddy Todd having last rung at the end of WWII that within the last 10 years was bashed out of the old Grange Hall tower and taken as a trophy to a place that can never know its history. George King, a saint of a man who would only repair the furnace or an oven for free and who hangs multiple calendars on his wall that represent the different day-date combos. I've been hearing from more and more old friends. Journalists can get their nickers in a half hitch all they want about Facebook and privacy, but I've become reacquainted with quite a few old friends through Facebook.

Anyway, Jill, here are some photos from the last few years.

Finn, Jade Star's baby boy (recent)

Mom and Steve, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO (last October)

Fabulous sunset in Florida! Wedding. March 2007

Miss Claire, the best lady

Me with my family heirloom and kitsch bouquet

Mom and Dad walking on the dock that Steve and I married on

Da Kiss!

Steve and me

Our hokey, staged "Florida" shot - pink flamingo and all. Xmas 2005, I think

One Year in Colorado June 1, 2007 - June 1, 2008

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

-Lance Armstrong

A few pictures from my year in review:


The Boulder Outlook Hotel, a zero waste hotel and my home during the first weekend in Boulder. Steve was still in New York.


The Charles Manson image that was on the bathroom wall in the dusty, creaky, creepy first apartment I lived in for two days, but couldn't hack. Steve was still in New York

My peaceful haven. The second apartment I lived in temporarily in a fortuitous instance of mutual benefit. I lived in the basement of a Buddhist couple's home - a professor of Jungian psychology and a glider pilot. Much better. Steve was still in New York.

Where I now live in a mixed-income, mixed-use community built to enhance density and conserve land. Another basement in the home of a professor of world dance.


Steve finally arrived in CO one week after I moved in. Here the left-handed man drinks Left Hand beer. Left Hand is the translation for Niwot, the famous Boulder area Arapaho leader.


Steve and I started to explore as much as possible realizing just how much awaited discovery.

We discovered that all the hype was true in regards to the Purple Mountains Majesty, the little mountain towns, the hot springs, the rivers, the...

And friends and loved ones began to show up.

Ann.


Mom.

Claire and Charlie

Steve's Mom.



Claire and Charlie, Kate and Paul, and Neil. (Missing from photo: Paul (Sick), Neil (stranded in the mountains). In New Year's photo L to R: Kate, Steve, me, Claire, Kate's cousin, Kate, Charlie, Tamtam, and Karen.

And last, but certainly not least, Gramma.





This year, sadly, we also lost our precious Tunsa.


In January, I sustained a concussion while snowboarding that led to a neck injury that I'm finally almost healed from.


It has certainly been a mixed year, but I'm already looking forward to year two and all that it will bring in terms of adventure, belonging, opportunity and healing.

Thanks everyone for your love, friendship and support!