Miscellaneous Missives

At one intersection, we stopped and listened to/sang Glory .   It's on my cycling playlist, and it's been a good song to ride with this summer. "No one can win the war individually It takes the wisdom of elders and young people's energy" Yesterday I joined MN NOC (Neighborhoods Organizing for Change), Black Lives Matter, and teachers from the AFT (American Federation of Teachers) to march for change.  The specifics surround the Philandro Castile shooting, but the march was about more than one person.  It was about bringing about change to our communities.  It was peaceful although twenty-one arrests were made.  The march ended at US Bank .  I need to do more research since the Google machine isn't helping, but it is said that US Bank and Wells Fargo make money off "state sanctioned violence."  Although I was more than happy to march, I was not willing to be arrested.  Is this lame?  Marching in support and chanting "From the scho...

I would, however, like to thank Trump and Pence for their new insignia.  It doesn't get any better than this. Today's Human.com Daily score is 69%... meh. I started packing for my seven days of RAGBRAI yesterday.  The camping tote is basically packed.  When I started packing, I realized one of my pairs of bike shorts didn't match my jersey, so I had to go buy a new pair (all black... matches all).  Excessive? I'm tapering this week which means I'm not riding much.  In reality, it means I might not ride this week. The Republican National Convention started yesterday.  I really thought it was going to be fun, but it is not really any fun at all.  My focus is no longer on the Presidential campaign.  I don't care... really!  I'm going to focus on what matters... House and Senate.

Today I joined a group ride with Hiawatha Bike Club again.  The ride was advertised as a 30 mile ride featuring Islands of Peace Park , a Mississippi River ride, and sculptures on the return.  We we followed part of the Mississippi River that I had not rode, and it was a delightful ride.  On the return, we passed the start of the ride where most had parked their cars.  I was a bit confused until I remembered the sculptures that were mentioned.  These two are downtown near the convention center, and the are interactive.  As someone pedals the bike under the sculpture it talks and makes noises.  Another person can pull the rope moving the head.  Both are quite amazing.  From pictures on FB, it looks as though they light up at night.  Although today's ride was slower than I would have liked, I met great people and the interactive sculptures (Wolf and Moose) were amazing.

KC at Word Savvy asked about crazy behaviors .  I have been exhibiting a big one these last couple of days.  When I get overwhelmed or scared, I often quit, give up, throw in the towel... Since I am hundreds of miles behind my cycling last year, I am freaking out about this year's ride.  It's going to be much hillier and that scares me.  Thursday someone posted the weather outlook for the last week in July.  Of course, I had already been putting the towns of the ride into weather.com and knew the forecast was mid nineties for the entire week.  How did I prepare myself for this?  I decided not to ride yesterday because it was too cold.  In other words, I quit.  Today I was on the same path until a ride popped up on my bike club calendar.  Riding with others is always motivational, so I will ride today thanks to this update.  The good news is next week is a rest week.  I'll ride Tuesday with the group again, but that will be...

I'm sure you've seen this, but I LOVE it! Tonight I road 25 miles on my own and then road the other 25 miles with the bike club.  At the beginning of the ride they were wondering if Summit was open.  I explained that although it was still closed, cyclist could get through, but I thought we should forego the one block of protesters.  My reasoning, which I did not say, was I thought it to be disrespectful for 13 of us to ride through.  The leader, however, decided to follow the cops advice and ride through.  As we passed a group with large Black Lives Matter signs, I held up my fist in solidarity.  The three in front of me did not see my gesture.  The sign holders, who had been silent, acknowledged my solidarity by chanting Black Lives Matter.  The gentleman next to me wondered aloud if they had done that for us.  I didn't tell him about my fist in solidarity, but I did take a mile or so to talk to him about implicit bias, mental illness, a...

My life has come down to two basics, biking and books.  With only 11 days, 21 hours, 41 minutes and 6 seconds until the start of RAGBRAI, I'm happy to be back on my bike.  Yesterday's ride was hot and humid (like crazy).  I always sweat a ton when I ride, but yesterday was out of control.  Let me gross you out a bit.  When I returned home, I could wring water (sweat) out of both my bandana and my hair... not even joking. I've also been sticking with reading one book for each three young adult (YA) books I read.  As soon as I blog about the YA books, I start a book from my reading list.  Yesterday it was Gloria Steinem''s My Life on the Road .  She's coming to St. Paul for Talking Volumes, and I think it could be interesting.  I liked the book (4/5 stars).  I really did.  However, I can't get past her comments about women and Barry Sanders.  "Young women, she said, ask, 'Where are the boys?' as in, 'Who are the boys voting ...

This is where I decided to retrace my path. The light made it seem like a good idea. I started riding my bike again on Friday with a 25 mile ride.  Yesterday I rode 30 miles.  Today my plan was to do a similar ride and perhaps add a few miles.  Anyone that knows me and reads my blog guesses I sometimes push my limits.  On FB people questioned whether or not I had clearance from my doctor.  My doctor wanted me to wait until both saddle sores (turned into bulbous boils of disgust) had completely cleared.  Since the saddle sores are not completely (although mainly) cleared, I'm going to guess my doctor would tell me to be cautious.  Anyway, I feel good about riding which is important since I found myself lost on today's ride.  I had asked twice for directions, but I think the other cyclists thought I had more of an idea of my location.  I guess I should have realized I was farther out than I had planned when another cyclist, who was giving m...