In the Quiet in the Dark

I have a confession. Today I rode my bike for the second time in many months. Yes. Only two times in maybe three or four months, and one was last week. Life has thrown me some fast balls and some curve balls, and I'm holding on to keep up with all of the action. I made it - the miles are mine again.

Last week I found myself scared on the way home. I was well-dressed for the weather, and lit up like a rolling Christmas tree with all my lights. I didn't understand my own reaction, except to say we are close to the winter solstice and light is scarce. I was easily startled. Maybe it was because the shadows on a trail move faster than you expect when rolling through the dark.

I did a repeat tonight to test myself. My phone blared music while I bounded through miles of greenway in the night. About the time Bruce Springsteen came on, I caught my groove. The song reminded me of the nights in high school when we would drive out to the swamp with the windows down to listen to the croak of the alligators.

Can't wait for daylight savings to end!

Shadows

I love how the road lights up with glitter at certain times of day. It's also pretty amazing the things you can make on your cell phone.

I saw a unicorn!

Maybe you know that my friend and I are doing some Heart Spoken jerseys?

Yesterday morning I was on the phone with Rachel, and I wound up driving on the road that I usually bike on. (Don't be mad. Sometimes I drive a car.)

The coolest thing happened! I SAW ANOTHER FEMALE BIKE COMMUTER! I did what any other giddy driver would do... No, no - I didn't run her off the road - I stopped to give her one of our jerseys.

I hope she wears it and that it protects her, even if for just a moment. We need to stand up for each other. We need to help each other. We need to protect each other, regardless of how we're getting to work in the morning.

Cause I'm #reflective like that

Picked up a great new reflective Sugoi jacket in the REI sale. Very happy about this.

Can we take a minute to enjoy that I took my morning conference call from the sunny side of this tree?

The timing wasn't quite going to work for me, so I made sure to charge my phone. To my mind, this moment was a marvel. I was on the phone with Atlanta, New York, and India from the sunny side of this tree.

Day 1 trial of the jersey

Walking out the door, my co-worker makes a “Your mom” joke. (minus 1)

But man, it feels super great. (plus 1)

And the weather is perfect! (plus 2)

I left a little before 5, the worst possible time to try to get home. The sun is at an angle, and the roads are at their peak. (potential… how does that score?)

Usually, it is a harrowing feat to cross US70. Today, traffic stopped for me and let me thru to the turn lane. (plus 1)

I didn’t get a single honk, even for my #boobs … Which is weird. (plus 5)

Calling it a win.

I am someone's Mom

I've written a lot about the aggression I experience from people who drive cars. When we are sitting in a cafe at breakfast, it is a way less hostile exchange. Less dangerous. All around, just a better time.

I had this idea that if I wore a jersey with the word "MOM" on the back, maybe people driving the cars around me would be less... awful? nasty? dangerous?

I pay taxes and I have a job. I'm a mom and I volunteer. I shouldn't have to claim my place in society just to have this space of road. I have to get tow work. I would otherwise be using this same space with a car.

And then Rachel, one of my most beloved soul sisters, made me this.

http://ift.tt/20fitKw

Weather for your gear

29 degrees but I don't want to wear and carry special bike- and weather- specific gear. Here's to my new wool turtleneck sweater.

Street Cleaner!

The ride home was muddy. Roads were grimy and all that is now all over me. This is all fine until I approach this truck running sprinklers on the front, back and sides of his truck. Thankfully, traffic picked up both directions. I'm not typically thankful for cars.