Beer Alert!

This stuff: Grimbergen Double. Wow! I have had Belgian Abbey beers before who claim to have chocolate tones, but this one really does. It makes the perfect companion to M&M's. Yes, it is that kind of day.

I am writing this mostly to document, but I rode my bike 20 miles Saturday and 30 on Sunday. Halfway through I got two phone calls and I stopped to chat. Some guy pulled over to see if I needed assistance. I saw a farm that had 2 bulls, several llamas, and a camel! Then I rode past a little oil field. I started to wonder if I was in Kansas anymore. The south wind reminded me that I was. Riding on a bike is a great way to appreciate the subtleties of Kansas landscapes. I really do appreciate them.

Someone asked what I thought about while I am on these 2-3 hour rides. I thought that might be interesting. Besides the internal monologue about how far, how fast I am going and what gear I should be in and if I can sustain this type of riding for longer, my mind does many things.

My mind speaks a prayer of gratitude for having the time and the health to be able to be out enjoying such a lovely day. It hopes that I will be able to continue doing this, as most road cyclists are much older than I am. It plays songs. Today it was Modest Mouse, "Dancehall" and Four Non-Blondes "What's Up." I am sure it was the lyric, "Trying to get up this great big hill..."

Often the internal monologue goes to what parts are hurting and what I can do about it. Distance riding can cause sore wrists, back, legs and butt. The worst is the butt. Being a hard-ass would be ideal for this.

I try to plan more cycling trips. I try to stay in the moment. I often look across the fields, or at the farm houses and wonder what it would be like to live there.

I do not listen to headphones. I think it is dangerous not being able to hear and they take me out of the moment.

(no subject)

Today was a perfect day. When the sun went down, I was sad to see the day end. The weather was sunny, warm, and breezy. I love the feel of the sun on my skin and a sweat breaking on my brow. That is the feel of summertime and I can't get enough. Some have posted about not liking the sun, and that is OK. I like it enough for all of us. My skin is tanning even though I use SPF 30 or 45. I don't mind.

The atmosphere at SM West (the school where I teach) is pleasant and I think it has a lot to do with the windows. There is natural light in every room. This is not the case at Northwest, where I taught the last three years. No windows, no natural light. I would go all day without knowing what the weather was like. I am happy to have windows, even though the rooms get warm and there is glare on the TV screen and the whiteboards. We need a certain amount of light. That is a biological fact.