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Depression – BanalWriting My Stuff, Then.....and Now Fri, 20 Apr 2018 02:37:43 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-madguy-by-Ryan-32x32.jpg Depression – BanalWriting 32 32 Quiet /2018/04/19/quiet/ /2018/04/19/quiet/#respond Fri, 20 Apr 2018 02:37:43 +0000 When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing – just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park? Ralph Marston This is my most recent mindset, rather my thought that quiet (or lack of) is one of my issues. I know, it’s hard to nail down to just one, issue I mean. We are inundated with children lately and the sounds of them. That may sound like a criticism or a complaint regarding children, in particular ‘our’ children but it’s not. The ‘our’ in that sentence refers to children in our family, be it grandchildren or nieces/nephews. And to clarify the term ‘inundated’ in no way should be construed as negative, but it is nonetheless fairly accurate. Now there’s two paragraphs that took up far too much time in my morning to create. Suffice to say I’m beginning to wonder if some of my more recent dip into depression is a result of a lack of quiet. When I examine the question more fully I can see that my/our days are filled with children. With that comes the need for attention and frequent interactions. Seldom does much time go by where I have that quiet I crave, maybe need. Even now, at this moment, Ivy has arrived and is entertaining herself on an iPad. I’m not writing here, now, to comment on the pros and cons of electronics. That can be covered another day. I only mention it to set the scene. The house is relatively quiet, save for the sounds of the some childrens video on the iPad in the other room and the tapping of the keys here as I write. Still I am pulled away mentally. My attention wavers as I try to focus on writing my post. The duties of the day call and some part of me feels guilty for leaving her to her own devices (no pun intended), to be babysat by some electronics. It’s also the distraction of the sounds from that device. In short it’s a lack of quiet. As a result I moved from the TV area to our living room. The mess and/or distractions from that area are overshadowed by the (relative) peace. The thought of quiet, or lack of, being a cause or contributor to my condition just popped into my head. Don’t know why, just did. I guess the ‘why’ of my depression is always in the back of my mind. I’m generally an inquisitive kinda guy. Lately that characteristic and others have been subdued. Or is it repressed? Overwhelmed? Certainly diminished! Mason has just arrived so the challenges to find peace have increased. I will try to complete this thought soon, later today if possible. Let’s see where that plan leads. Apparently I’ve gained some time, maybe only minutes so I’ll continue…….. Doctors visit I saw the Dr. a couple days ago, the same day I gave blood. That’s another story in itself. I saw my Dr. to look for answers to my persistent unhappiness. Interestingly that was one question he asked me, “are you happy?” My answer was of course “No”. I haven’t really been happy for a long time and if pressed I’m not sure I could answer when or if I was ever really, truly happy. I suppose I could ask “what is happiness” and I’d be inundated with varying responses, some of which I’d likely agree and some not. Happiness falls on a scale I suspect and while I have had happy moments, and many of them I think, I’d question whether I am a happy person. My moments come when with those I love and who love me. I feel more love when with my grand-daughter Ivy for example. She seems to love me unconditionally, and while we have certainly had our moments we come through them and are maybe stronger for it. Maybe I need note that she is presently only 3, turning 4 in a month. I’m happy when with my grandson, and those moments typically come when we are alone. Once it’s more than just us the wheels ultimately leave the track. I feel happy when with my daughter, although our relationship is not what I’d call usual we have a connection and bond one can’t dispute. Perhaps much of what we have is unspoken. And I feel happy with my wife, in those moments where we can share in openness and some honesty. Those times seem far too infrequent however, thus my happiness is fleeting in those times. But I digress. the point was quiet and it’s impact on my depression. Guess I’ll have to try again. ]]> /2018/04/19/quiet/feed/ 0 There Seems to be a Piece of Me Missing /2018/02/02/there-seems-to-be-a-piece-of-me-missing/ /2018/02/02/there-seems-to-be-a-piece-of-me-missing/#respond Fri, 02 Feb 2018 22:00:51 +0000 I’m lost again, and I’m tired of saying it. Seems to be my lot in life, certainly of late anyway. Something is missing, a piece of me, what could it be? It feels like it could be the ME in me. My soul or it’s cousin. The symptoms are there. I have low energy, very little desire or motivation to do anything. Those things I did enjoy or love I have little desire to take on. I don’t know if I’ve taken a photo since the New Year, not many if I’ve taken any. I don’t particularly feel like writing. I know I’m here posting now but it’s a struggle, words don’t come to me the same way any longer. I do some genealogy stuff but even that has not been catching my interest in the same way. Colouring has fallen into my distant memory One of the most hurtful things is that I often feel numb when it comes to relationships. For the most part I just don’t care. I can’t seem to muster up the energy to devote to maintaining the relationships I’ve got, certainly supporting others in my life is more challenging. I just want to go ‘NAH’ and move to a mountaintop. I know I’ve said it before, and done little to resolve it, but I think the weather has a bigger impact than I may have realized. All I need to is dig out my SADs light and I’d likely see a resolution if that’s it. Just have to do it. That and call the Doctor. My thoughts also run to the number of things or tasks I feel connected to. In addition to home jobs, the honey-do list a prime example, I also have my own little projects both around the house and not. There’s too many to list here really, and I’m sure the list would continue to grow as I wrote them down, but as an example I have multiple webpages and blogs that require maintenance and new material. I have multiple journals in addition to the blogs, and journals for both g-kids. There are solar projects I’d like to tackle, jobs to finish around the house like painting, even routing maintenance. I just feel overwhelmed and as a result I do none of it. Now it’s tax time too of course and I’m always behind in my banking. Then there’s my finances of course, and the shitty place I’ve put myself with more money going out than coming in. Conservatively I could be out of money in 5 years. Then watch the real depression set in. I feel like I’ve babbled enough, and there’s no sense I’m resolving anything. I still feel empty, perhaps in addition to my soul vacating the premises it’s also been my ‘heart’. Wish me luck. ]]> /2018/02/02/there-seems-to-be-a-piece-of-me-missing/feed/ 0 All About Nothing /2018/01/20/all-about-nothing-2/ /2018/01/20/all-about-nothing-2/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 21:29:43 +0000 Here we go, a beer under my belt and I blather on All about Nothing. And nothing it is, I’m in Milestone’s and the junk on the TV blows me away. But I’m not here to critique the television content, instead I came to have another beer and attempt to write. Once again I’ve journaled on paper, both in Madden’s journal and my own, and I was left lacking. An attempt to blog seemed to fit the bill. I began today’s journey in Mickie’s Pub, attached to the Ramada Lodge Hotel, and after travelling down memory lane there I decided to come here. Moze, Ivy, and Tabitha are at the show and I am having quiet time. It’s not particularly quiet here but the symbolism is there. The Guts of the Matter The sun is showing it’s face more often now and it would appear to me that winter is tapering off and spring is only a mere 2-3 months away. Only 2 or 3. What am I saying? The sun did come out the last couple days and that’s what causes me to feel this way. Prior to that each day was grey and somewhat depressing, let’s call a spade a spade. It does nothing for my mood, perhaps keeping me in a depression or funk I wouldn’t be in otherwise. I am weather dependent, let’s face it, and the weather has not been supportive. My moods of late have been low, I want to retreat from life outside my home and lead a somewhat monastic life. It’s not like I don’t like people, I just don’t want to be around them. What does that say?? I tell Moze “I’m not Anti-Social, I’m Non-Social”. Other Shit…. Did I tell you we bought another car? Not ‘another’ in the sense of an additional, but in the context of a different one. This one an Acura RDX, a switch up from the Acura TL SH-AWD we had prior to yesterday. I’ve officially become an SUV owner, a family man, the epitome of the mini-van ecosystem. Pity me now. Just about time to leave, the beer’s setting in and I have to pee once more. And……I have to get the girls from the show and see what life has dealt me with regards to my Friday night. I may, or may not, see you again today. If not, hold it together….. ]]> /2018/01/20/all-about-nothing-2/feed/ 0 Crusty today, Am I just SAD’s? /2017/12/15/crusty-today-am-i-just-sads/ /2017/12/15/crusty-today-am-i-just-sads/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2017 01:17:22 +0000 Bad mood Thursday, I’m feeling particularly crusty today. Depression or SADs? I felt ok earlier, just tired, and cold. I think I’m coming down with something. I hope it’s not the dreaded ‘man flu’ that was rampant in the news the other day. Likely what put me over the edge was what generally does, the inability for things to go my way. As I said I felt not too bad this morning, other than the chills and malaise. It must’ve been the trip to Costco and the cf that happened there. I don’t want to up-play it (opposite of downplay), it certainly wasn’t the cause of all my ills, just a contributor to them. In a nutshell the cashier mixed up my cash card and a new one I was about to purchase. Honest mistakes happen, and to be honest I felt ok mood wise after. For the most part. After that I went to Home Depot to get some lumber but I quickly tired of sorting through the bin of bent, split, pitchy wood for a drawer I’m planning to make. Then Ayron called and enquired about Ivy, and then about Christmas presents. She wants me to get a gc for Moze at Additionelle, pffft. All in all nothing really agitating but my mood deteriorated and here I am. Here is the pub at the Best Western, the 97 Street Pub, a place known to me as they say. A drinking establishment, what a surprise. At this point I feel like my life has gone into the toilet. Perhaps it’s depression (again/still), but I’m wondering if it’s more SADS than anything else. I’ve had it before, self diagnosis at work, and the symptoms fit. I don’t even want to write anymore and I came prepared to record something of Ivy’s life in her journal. Poor me, I can’t even think. I’m sad, or SAD, and I still feel crusty. Signing off. ]]> /2017/12/15/crusty-today-am-i-just-sads/feed/ 0 I Think I’ve Turned the Corner, Out of my Depression /2017/08/19/think-ive-turned-corner-depression/ /2017/08/19/think-ive-turned-corner-depression/#comments Sat, 19 Aug 2017 16:06:55 +0000 I’m optimistic that the title of this post tells the story, that in fact I have turned the corner. Whether it’s the weather (haha), as in forest fire smoke, or hormones I don’t know. It could just be my synapses getting their act together. Whatever the cause, I’m glad it seems to have subsided, at least a bit. It was getting to be a bit tenuous there for a while. I wish I had written more about my issues and the feelings of recurring depression at the time but I didn’t. You’ll have to take my word for it here. The Visit A few months ago we were asked by an old friend, a former International Student, if he could come from Japan to visit with his youngest daughter. Yuzo, the student, had last visited us 4 years ago with his eldest daughter Lisa when she was about 14. Now the younger daughter, Maho, has begged her father to bring her to Canada to meet us and see the country, and the area he talks about so fondly, the community and family he spent so much time with in the late ’80’s. Of course we wanted to have them visit, to see Yuzo once again and meet his youngest child, herself now 15. The window for this visit was small however. We settled on a period just prior to our scheduled vacation, they would come and spend a couple days in Kelowna and then we’d all go to Castlegar to camp. The time came. Yuzo and Maho arrived, albeit a bit late due to a tardy flight. Our visit went well and the trip to, and camping in, Castlegar was uneventful. The Aftermath I would have to say in all honesty that the trip and visiting was tiring to say the least. Only Yuzo spoke English. Maho knew some English but for whatever reason chose to use very little of it. My mood was stretched by the time of their visit and we were already beat. We’d had other visitors before this and had done our share of daycare/child rearing. I do not want to belittle or begrudge the visit with had with them in the least. We love them and we loved our time with them. The challenge was just that we were tired and needed some time to ourselves for a while. That will come in a few weeks and I hope to write more then. Having guests, and frequent child-care of the Grandchildren takes it’s toll, at least at our advanced ages. But hey, we’ll sleep when we’re dead. Fast Forward It’s now a bit later in the week and I maintain a relatively good mood. I’m saddened, of course, that my ADD had gotten the better of me with regard to this post but I’m here now. The short version of this post is that I’ve begun to feel better with no increase in meds or other changes. The weather has turned the corner though and much of the smoke has cleared. I’m going to chalk up my depressed state to environmental causes. Anything profound I had to say about my condition has been lost to time. It’s unfortunate really because I truly did have some profundity in me……lol. So, signing off for now. In everything banal I bid you “cya later”. ]]> /2017/08/19/think-ive-turned-corner-depression/feed/ 1 Hat In Hand /2017/08/08/hat-in-hand/ /2017/08/08/hat-in-hand/#respond Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:42:11 +0000 Once again I come with hat in hand, writing with no idea what words will pour forth, I have an idea of what I want to say but not how to say it. I come begging that the thoughts will somehow magically appear on the page. The last little while I’ve felt decidedly cranky, my skin don’t fit as it were. I’m often ‘crusty’ and I don’t really know why. I’m concerned it may be some type of relapse or just a general deterioration in the meds ability to adjust my moods. I’m more than a little uneasy that perhaps my depression is rearing it’s ugly head again. Prior to this I have felt good for quite some time and the latest decline in my mood is troubling. It’s not that I have thoughts of suicide or anything quite so dramatic, I just have a general malaise, my mood is depressed and I feel a titch unhappy and even a little sad at times. Case in point, about a week ago or so I had to strongly discipline our 3 year old granddaughter Ivy. She was in ‘a mood’, perhaps like me, and was having some challenges listening. She was overtly disobedient and challenging our authority, she was at times very disrespectful and spitting at me and saying unkind things toward me. In the end I carried her into the other room and had to restrain her, her kicking and hitting out of her control. She reacted very guardedly toward me after that. For days she would not come near me and looked at me with fear and distrust on her face. It saddened me immensely. I felt as if I’d lost her. Happy ending to the story however is that on our last visit she has come around. She comes easily to me and treats me loving once again. I feel somewhat whole. My point, I think, is that under normal circumstances this wouldn’t have bothered me so. This reaction, my sadness and dismay at her apparent withdrawal of love, is more typical of BM (before meds). I was much more sensitive to any emotional triggers and less able to cope in what I thought was a normal fashion. Perhaps even my reaction to her disobedience was not in tune with ‘normal’. Bottom line is I don’t feel as well as I’d like to. I’m considering self medicating and upping the dose of my medication. I’m on a very small amount as is, only 5 mg, and I could easily double that. Is that the issue though? Perhaps exercise (or lack of) is the key. The weather may be a factor as well because here in the Okanagan we are seeing many days with significant smoke in the skies. There are fires all around the province and temperatures are at all time highs. Certainly environmental factors must be considered. In the end I will hold the course I think, I will monitor my feelings and endeavour to continue with self awareness. It might be nothing…..it might be something, but it is a ‘thing’. ]]> /2017/08/08/hat-in-hand/feed/ 0 Blog Withdrawal /2017/07/05/blog-withdrawal/ /2017/07/05/blog-withdrawal/#respond Wed, 05 Jul 2017 22:33:23 +0000 I’ve been going through withdrawal lately (always thought it was spelled “withdrawl” until spell check corrected me). I’m not talking the chemical kind of withdraw’a’l, I’m referring to the emotional and intellectual kind. The blog withdrawal kind. I need a fix. I try to write but my words seem perfunctory. I blather on, spitting words on the screen like a wet-mouthed close-talker. See, here I go again. I feel like I’ve lost my edge. I want it back, if I ever really had it. I began this blog to talk about my experiences with depression, hence the sub-title “Then, til Now”. While I suspect one never beats depression, nor is ‘cured’ of it, I do think we adapt and it becomes part of who we are. Anyway I digress. I was out for a walk today and passed through a tunnel on the way. I took a photo and it’s posted as the feature image above. It made me think my life is sort of like that, in a dramatic sort of way. Part of my life was in a tunnel. Over time I came to the exit and saw a future ahead. The meds help that. They assisted in my exit from the tunnel and perhaps they help me still. I guess I won’t know until, or when, I stop taking them. I will admit one of the reasons I began writing here was to help vent out some the the thoughts I had, to ‘spill my guts’ as it were. A journal was suggested by my then counselor Gloria but given my geekiness I thought an online blog may be appropriate too. I wrote a bit about that in a previous post Ennui, Now there’s a word. One of my followers on this blog was a lady named Mary. She had created a number of blogs herself, and had lived an amazing life, one filled with blessing and much pain. I miss Mary. I never knew her in the sense one might be acquainted but we chatted via email a few times and she expressed some of the challenges she had experienced in her life. I won’t cover it here but needless to say she lost her husband, the love of her life, and 2 of her sons, both boys to suicide. I think of Mary and wonder what became of her. I’ve found a number of her blogs but few of them have anything current. She frequently used the name “oldsunbird’ in her blogs, My Poetry, My Journey Through Old Age, OldSunBird are a few I’ve found. I’d dearly like to know what’s become of Mary. Well I think it’s time for me to go. I’ve rambled enough and responsibilities command. In reality it’s taken me 2 days to write this post and even now I’m not sure it’s completely satisfactory (to me). Mind you I don’t know that they ever have. That my be another symptom of my withdrawal. ]]> /2017/07/05/blog-withdrawal/feed/ 0 Back in the saddle, so to Speak.. /2016/12/08/back-in-the-saddle-so-to-speak/ /2016/12/08/back-in-the-saddle-so-to-speak/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2016 21:46:14 +0000 Well, I am back in, got my 2 factor figured out. Actually the WordPress people were very accommodating so I can’t say anything against my experience there. I am of course referring to the site at skidaddy.wordpress.com. For now though I am going to post here, more from a ‘shits’n giggles’ point of view than anything else. It was sorta what I’d envisioned all along anyway. So to the point. My life is proceeding along nicely. I feel no worse for wear, my depression is manageable and other than a recent cold/flu I feel physically well. I did however just have a colonoscopy and while the procedure went well they did find an unacceptable number of polyps. Some were removed at the time but one large one will require surgery to remove. All removed samples are being examined for signs of the big ‘C’. Interestingly enough I feel rather disconnected from the experience, and the outcome. Perhaps it’s a coping mechanism, maybe just another example of a disconnect from my feelings. I don’t know why that is, if I could talk to Elly, or someone, about it then some conclusion might be reached. I don’t recall ever going down that road with her. Elly was my most recent Counsellor (or Counselor, depending on country). I very much miss my chats with her. She brought a certain amount of clarity to things in my life. I often suspected however that while I may have been an interesting diversion, or client for her, that my needs were not what she considered her most life altering. I’m perfectly ok with that, if it’s true. She was still important to me. I will contact her to update my life. Otherwise my life here is pretty mundane. I’m not an excitement junky, hanging around the house doing genealogy, some photography, perhaps the odd ‘honey-do’ project, keeps me busy. I’m seldom bored. If I feel the need I take a walk, like today, and maybe frequent one of the local establishments. You never know I might even write. ]]> /2016/12/08/back-in-the-saddle-so-to-speak/feed/ 4 Some thoughts… /2016/02/16/some-thoughts/ /2016/02/16/some-thoughts/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2016 21:33:40 +0000 As if it hasn’t been said enough “Time flies while you’re having fun”, or something like that. And time has flown. I believe it’s a function of aging, that time flies. I read somewhere that the perception of time passing faster as we age is due to the lack of originality in our lives. And by originality I mean that there are seldom any new experiences in our lives as time goes on. As a rule we continue to do the same things month over month and year after year and so our perception of time flattens, it compresses and it becomes more difficult to differentiate one year over another. Time becomes all the same and in doing so it ‘flies’. So, this theory being correct it would only stand to reason that one way to slow time down would be to do different things, to have new experiences, to make each week, month, and year different. Not a new theory but important nonetheless. Now I don’t profess to have all the answers but it’s clear I have opinions, lots of them. Perhaps too many. Life has been generally good to me over the last number of months. Being that it’s so long since I’ve updated this site I may repeat myself in what I say here so I will apologize in advance. My health, both emotional and physical, has been good. Aside from the usual colds and one episode with the flu I am doing well. I have gone back on the meds with my Doctor’s blessing and only at a half dose (10 mg Citalopram). I feel much better. Prior to that (about Dec.) I was once again back-sliding and feeling depressed. I had little motivation, was easily angered and frustrated, my emotions were all over the place and I just plain felt emotionally shitty. I’ve tried to explain it away saying it was the weather or some other such excuse but the facts and history just don’t support that. I just have to accept it and resolve myself to the possibility that I may have to use meds to support my habit, that of feeling well. The positive in the whole thing is that after my Doctor’s visit he suggested I start off with a lower dosage than before. This was a newer Doctor mind you, an international Doctor in training in my clinic, but he was/is very interested in my health and his suggestion had merit. As such I gave it a shot and haven’t really looked back. This was done in concert with a new counselor as well. I began seeing her just before my first appointment with the Doctor and as time has gone on I’ve appreciated her more and more. Her name is Elly. I decided to try her instead of going back for a 3rd time with Gloria. Elly is going for her Masters in Counselling and is doing her practicum in that clinic. So far I like her a lot, she is open and approachable, has fresh ideas and a perception that is refreshing. She is a proponent of Art Therapy and has offered me the option of trying it. Art therapy sounded/sounds strange and while I am generally resistant to change I thought I owed it to myself to try something different. It was different for sure and some aspects of it were not comfortable for me. As an example she asked me to draw something, anything, on a paper covered table. All manner of pencils, felt pens, crayons, and paint were available to me, in all colours, so the options of media were essentially unlimited. It was all up to me as to what I chose to draw, and how to draw it. Once complete she asked how I ‘felt’ about the drawing, both in topic and substance. The next session she again asked me if I wished to draw and this time she suggested I draw a Mandala. She gave me a 10″ circle of paper to draw on and again I could choose any media. In this context I must clarify that what she was asking me to draw was not a Mandala by it’s true definition. There was no religious significance to the drawing, more what she was asking was for me to draw a free form design on the circle of paper. Again, once the drawing was complete we chatted about the how and why of the sketch, and how I felt. Part II Because I seem to be long winded, and due to the fact my welcome wore out at Bagel’s and Brew (not really) I’ve had to complete this post the next day. I started writing Monday morning and here we are Tuesday, same coffee shop but different table, completing the saga. At any rate my drawing experience was/is very interesting with it reinforcing some things I probably already knew about myself. In my first sketches, particularly the Mandala format I strived to be organized, symmetrical, accurate and somewhat precise. When I created a new drawing being more carefree, unorganized, non-symmetrical, in a word MESSY, I felt more free, more relaxed. In short it felt good. That feeling was one that I was, and am, trying to replicate. I asked Elly if perhaps that was a state that I could develop through writing or photography. If I could bring my artistic and feeling side (less structured and rigid) more to the forefront by focussing on my artistic side, more right brained activities. She wasn’t sure but suggested I try by using my photography in an ‘out of the box’ fashion, taking photos in ways and of things that I normally might not. In fact she suggested this just before we went to Hawaii. I’ve tried and would have to say it’s not as easy to accomplish as I thought it might. Some of the appropriate photos, and any drawings I completed while there were brought to my next session where we discussed my goal and any progress I made. Again, this was more difficult than I first thought. So to be blunt one of the purposes of going to counselling was to get the stick out of my ass. This wasn’t necessarily the original reason, nor the only reason, but in talking with here I’ve come to realize that it was one of my personality traits that I desired to change. In effect I want to loosen up and have more fun, be more relaxed about things on a day to day basis. This has been a long and likely boring post however it has also been done as an effort to begin writing again. I have been journalling fairly consistently but that method has become repetitive it was time to mix it up. Elly has suggested if I do journal that rather than the wordiness of it that I should use only descriptor words about how I feel at the time, no structured sentences. I would still like to sketch and may incorporate that as well. So, ‘nuf said, Too much perhaps. See you on the flip side. ]]> /2016/02/16/some-thoughts/feed/ 3 Time Flies, But to Where? /2013/09/12/time-flies-but-to-where/ /2013/09/12/time-flies-but-to-where/#respond Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:37:46 +0000 Boy does time fly. Is that a result of too many demands or not enough emphasis put to using the available time wisely? It appears I’ve not succeeded in determining that fundamental question. While it may sound like another rant is imminent I plan for that to not be the case. Unfortunately frustration sometimes gets the better of me, and travelling, camping, keeping 2 blogs going, developing a website, and doing genealogical research during the summer vacation period, has shown to be a challenge. And this doesn’t include any yard or housework. Ok, so it is a bit of a rant….. However things are winding down now and I’m optimistic we will again see some semblance of order and a return to some routines, of which posting will again become one. The last month(s) or so I’ve also not been feeling as chipper as I was prior to that, my fear is a return to the dreaded ‘depression’. I’m giving it that name although I’m still not convinced that’s what it is. I’ve been off my depression meds now for a while so there may be a connection there. It could just be that I’m an emotionally intense person, suffering from highs that are a bit higher and lows a bit lower than the average bear. If you want to read more on emotional intensity go here. Connected with that are other Borderline Personality Disorders (BPD), not sure I want to go there though. And there’s the possibility it could also just be I’m a cranky SOB, or some other maladjusted personality quality. And before we go too far I do believe it’s a medical/psychological issue, not a spiritual one, so while I appreciate everyone’s concern let’s just leave it at that. Whatever the cause it wreaks havoc on my moods and while (for the most part) I’m able to keep my bitchiness to myself it does leak out occasionally and generally toward someone close to me. Read that primarily as ‘wife’. Bless her heart she says she doesn’t see it but I think she’s just being nice. It’s great to have loving family isn’t it? On a positive note though I’m visiting my daughter and family, again….. . It almost seems like a second home sometimes. I’m not doing much daycare of my grandson this time but rather have come to Kelowna to see more distant family that I haven’t seen for a while, if ever. I may have been a baby or toddler on our last visit and I don’t remember. They may remember, and that’s one of the things I hope to find out. I’ve become acquainted (or reacquainted) with a number of my kin, such as Great Aunts, 2nd or 3rd cousins twice removed (whatever that means) and others that while not directly related were at one time part of my families lives. The genealogy bug has bitten and that is also one of those time flyers that’s attached to the web page and other blogs. Genealogy research soaks up tons of time let me tell you, or it can if you let it. In my case it’s feast or famine it seems, hard at it or not at all. So as I said, “Time Flies”. If you ever figure out where it goes please let me know. ]]> /2013/09/12/time-flies-but-to-where/feed/ 0

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harwoodlauren homlilly bunn interiorslinkslisa congdonlook linger loveloveloving latelylulie wallacelzola candlesmadeline denaromadewellmapmarcio kelmansonmarco campedellimargo selbymaricor maricarmarie claire maisonmark chamberlainmast brothersmelanie acevedomelanie turner interiorsmetallicsmichelle armasmimi and megmimosa lanemiranda skoczekmissonimonth of awesomemorla designmotivationmusicnapa valleynecklacenew yearnick olsennickey-kehoeoswald's millpaintparlourpaylesspeihang huangpenny farthingpeonies and brasspersian rugpeter dunhampetspiecesplug projectspowell brower homepumpkinquerida carmenraven roxanneread between the linesrecentlyrenegade handmaderethinkrobert rothrobert szotrugsusasadie and stellasally king benedictsara mullanyschuyler sampertonscout and cataloguescrabbleseatingseb lestersharon montrosesheryl crowshopbopskylar feinsmall shopsmirnoff sorbet lightso manlysofasouthmoreland innspitzmiller and norris architects this served herest. patrick's daystationerystaycationstonefox magazinestudytastemakertaxestechnologytegan brozynatextilesthanksgivingthe american restaurantthe brick housethe couveteurthe eagle's nestthe home depotthe james hotelthe makers projectthe selbythese are thingsthings i dothreshold for targetto and from magazinetom scheerertraditional hometrendtrina turktrine panumtrouvé magazinetuckertwenty8twelveveranda magazineveronika filippovavignettesvintage luxevmac and cheesewall and decowarren platnerwatercolorwhitewickerwindowsword inkxavier encinas studioyangyang panyulia brodskayazachary smithBecause It's Awesomenoreply@blogger.com (Tobe | BIA)Blogger672125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6428572926770581290.post-6686514394639640076Fri, 20 Nov 2015 12:00:00 +00002015-11-20T14:59:39.280-06:00diningdining roomentertainingFriendsgivinghostesshostingThink.Make.ShareA Simple and Chic Friendsgiving Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><img border="0" src="; /></div> <br /> If you follow along on <a href="; target="_blank">Instagram</a> then you know that right smack in the middle of the <a href="2015/11/one-room-challenge-final-reveal-fall.html" target="_blank">One Room Challenge dining room makeover</a>, I hosted some co-workers for a little friends, fun, and feast.<br /> <br /> For those of you that are fairly new here, you may not know that I am the Managing Editor of <a href="; target="_blank">Hallmark's blog</a> highlighting our highly-celebrated creative community of 500+ in-house artists. Obviously one of the perks of this job is working with creative people all day every day. So while I'll admit to being a little intimidated having them over, it's always so cool to invite creative people into your home. (Okay, let's be honest; I welcome the excuse to invite any friend into our home!) But I feel like other artists respond to the quirkier aspects of our decor. And that always makes me feel a little less...weird.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> <br /> Same could be said of setting the stage for a great meal. Just like with my home, I wanted something with a neutral base and plenty of personality. (Ahem...enter ze brass menagerie.)<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> I picked up an <a href="; target="_blank">ivory linen tablecloth</a> and some funky, vibrant table runners, but in the end, decided to scrap the runner and keep the table more neutral. I'm going through a neutral life stage. Less visual noise is calming me...and I need all the calm I can get with a toddler and pregnancy hormones :)<br /> <br /> <a href="; target="_blank">White everyday dinnerware</a> and my vintage Thai bamboo flatware (similar <a href="; target="_blank">here</a>) kept things warm and fresh. <a href="; target="_blank">Vintage tumblers</a> housed what I can only assume was the <a href="; target="_blank">most delicious Sparkling Cranberry Orange Sangria</a> ever known to man because Ali made it. (I really need to stop hosting parties while pregnant.) She also provided a spread of sides. Which is genius, if you ask me, because I suspect only a select few of us get actual joy from cooking a huge turkey twice in one month (or year, if you're me). It was all so incredibly delicious. (Ali detailed and linked the entire menu <a href="; target="_blank">here</a>.)<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />  Florals aren't really my game, but I wanted to give it a shot. I played around with incorporating produce into the arrangement and tabletop. I love that the centerpiece really took center stage this way! It was great for conversation, too. "Is that...kale...in there?"<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> Why yes, yes it is.<i> </i>Details on how I did it <a href="; target="_blank">here</a>.<br /> <br /> The other standout was the place cards. One of my coworkers hosted a <a href="; target="_blank">feather-painting workshop</a> with several Hallmark artists, and the results immediately inspired the place settings.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> Those <a href="; target="_blank">watercolor floral napkins</a> don't hurt anything either...<br /> <br /> Details and downloads for the place settings available <a href="; target="_blank">here</a>.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a> <br /> <br /> All in all, we had a crazy good time, and I'm really excited to start making this an annual tradition at our house. I'm curious -- how many of you are hosting Friendsgiving this year? I feel like it's a real thing now, which is so so awesome.<i> </i><br /> <br /> <i>This post is in collaboration with <a href="; and <a href="; target="_blank">Gimme Some Oven</a>. All opinions are my own. </i><i>Photos courtesy of Jane Kortright for Think.Make.Share. </i>2015/11/a-simple-and-chic-friendsgiving-table.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tobe | BIA)15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6428572926770581290.post-8607507053887074444Wed, 11 Nov 2015 12:00:00 +00002015-11-18T09:52:37.557-06:00decorinteriorsnew homeone room challengeone room challenge dining roomOne Room Challenge Final Reveal // Fall 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> Hello from my new dining room, friends! Also known as my office. Also known as that-room-that-shall-never-be-painted-or-redone-ever-again-or-my-husband-is-for-sure-leaving-me.<br /> <br /> That is not a joke.<br /> <br /> It's final reveal day for the One Room Challenge, where I've spent a short (but kinda long) six weeks transforming our dining room in every way. We started <a href="2015/10/one-room-challenge-no-1-fall-2015.html">here</a>:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <i>photos by <a href=" Kortright </a></i></div> <br /> And have ended up with a <i>completely</i> different space. The room was lovely before, yes. Dramatic, bold, and dripping with brass (my favorite!). But as I shared in week one of this challenge, I've learned that I love to look at bold spaces more than I love to live in them. With baby number two on the way and an office getting bumped for a nursery, I had to find a way to make this space do double duty. And we have accomplished just that!<br /> <br /> Our new dining room feels fresh, welcoming, and 1,000 times larger. I can accommodate both dining and office hidden storage needs, a place to display some of my <a href=" shop inventory</a>, and a solution for my magazine hoarding problem. (No book addict here. However, mags are a completely different story. I love revisiting them over and over, so this new easy access solution will hopefully keep me from forming piles all over the house.)<br /> <br /> Without further ado:<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <i> All photos by the incredibly talented <a href=" Kortright </a></i></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> And you guys know I can't help but sneak Ava into these shoots. She just has such a ball showing off for the camera!<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a><i></i></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a><i></i></div> </div> <br /> Let's deconstruct, shall we?<br /> <br /> First, the wall color. Walls and trim were both originally a glossy royal blue. With this makeover, the walls got 3 coats (yes, three in addition to a coat of primer - not fun) of <a href=" and Ball Cornforth White</a> in the Modern Emulsion finish. It's a glorious, soothing color! Trim is semi-gloss Benjamin Moore Simply White. Together, a wonderful combo.<br /> <br /> The lighting went from the bold and the beautiful to modern meets traditional charm. I LOVE the lighting situation in here! The <a href=" fixture</a> casts a warm, diffused glow over the room, and is set off perfectly by an <a href=" ceiling medallion</a>. I've opted for sweet little numbers on both the <a href=" Coffey Amerasian chest</a> (a beautiful <a href=" lamp</a> from sponsor Bellacor) and the wall unit as well (moved from its unused position in <a href="2014/11/one-room-challenge-master-bedroom-final.html">our master bedroom</a>). Multiple sources of low light is my jam. I'm pretty sure it makes my husband crazy to have 8,000 lamps on in the house, but it just <i>feels</i> good, you know? Plus, everyone looks great in that kind of light ;)<br /> <br /> The table and chairs were pretty much the only elements that carried over from the previous space. Someday I will recover the chairs, but it's not currently in the budget so they remain as-is.<br /> <br /> I simplified the window treatments. What was once four drapery panels is now two, and they got a much-needed trimming so they barely kiss the floor. All of which made for a much simpler look.<br /> <br /> I created crazy amounts of storage by bringing in a very lovely <a href=" Coffee Amerasian chest</a>. This is where the bulk of my dining linens, flatware, and bar accessories currently live. I love the unique lines of this piece, and the stunning brass hardware. I am a total sucker for good hardware! The simple bar setup lives on a silver tray my husband pulled out of a dumpster before we met (proof that you can find treasures anywhere!). The pieces on the wall above are vintage and the art is by the incredibly talented <a href=" Greenberg</a> via sponsor Minted.<br /> <br /> We created even more amazing storage with a custom wall-to-wall floating credenza and shelving solution. This was a major <i>major</i> pain point with such a tight timeline (and a husband out of town for about half of the 5.5 weeks), but I think it was definitely worth it. At least, it will be when we forget how much blood, sweat and tears went into it. We had friends over the night before the photo shoot and I could not have been quicker or more proud to share that Eric planned and built it himself. Very much inspired by the ever-popular fauxdenza Ikea hack, every bit of this was built from scratch with lumber and supplies from sponsor <a href=";. I'm trying to talk him into a follow-up tutorial, so hopefully I can provide one of those in the coming weeks/months. We're beyond happy with the results! I'm fortunate to have a side job <a href=" and selling beautiful things</a>, and it's such a treat to display them in a space that we walk by several times each day. Until they go off to happy new homes, of course. There's also plenty (and I do mean plenty!) of room to display <a href="; (some of Ava's even!), family photos, and the bulk of my extensive magazine collection.<br /> <br /> I love the mix of metals, clean white, and natural materials that make this room feel as comfortable as it is beautiful. From <a href=" seagrass baskets</a> and found clay vessels filled with greenery to bright white ceramics and traditional blue and white <a href=" jars</a>, everything creates a sense of balance in here. It's really come together in a way I kind of doubted it might.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> Whew. So that's that. Thank you to each and every one of you that came back each week to cheer us on! Thank you to Linda for her flawless coordination yet again. Big thank you to our generous sponsors, without whom this definitely would not have come to life. And biggest thank you to my family, who puts up with my crazy every time I choose to take on this One Room Challenge. It would never happen without your help and patience!<br /> <br /> Enjoy visiting the other 19 bloggers that took on this crazy challenge....and the many, many <a href=" participants</a> as well!<br /> <br /> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 23.1px; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span><a href="; style="color: #002c8f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Apartment 34</a> / </span><a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Arianna Belle</a> / <a href="2015/11/one-room-challenge-final-reveal-fall.html" style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Because it’s Awesome</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Coco+Kelley</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Design Darling</a></span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 23.1px; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><a href="; style="color: #002c8f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Design Indulgence</a> / </span></span><a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Design Manifest</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Christine Dovey</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The English Room</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vanessa Francis</a></span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans"; line-height: 23.1px; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><a href="; style="color: #002c8f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Hi Sugarplum</a> / </span></span><a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Honey We’re Home</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jojotastic</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Pink Clutch</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Pink Pagoda</a></span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-size: 16.5px; line-height: 23.1px; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><a href="; style="color: #002c8f; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Simplified Bee</a> / </span></span><a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Style Your Senses</a> / <a href="; style="color: #002c8f; line-height: 23.1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A Thoughtful Place</a><span style="line-height: 23.1px;"></span><span style="line-height: 23.1px;"></span&

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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786Sun, 26 Jul 2026 12:08:04 +0000advocacybike loveSeen from the saddleweatherbike funDIYbike culturecarrying thingsfoodinfrastructurefashionsafetycitizensBike projectsbike projectsparkingUtilitaire 12driving culturecar cultureLGRABarchitecturenew bikesMedialightingMinervacanningSummer Gamesadvocaygood booksBiking in Heelsthoughts on transportation cyclingnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)Blogger678125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-3377288316420318883Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:53:00 +00002015-02-02T10:53:51.551-05:00Hey look! It's another post!Gonna try to get some momentum here! <br /> <br /> We're Car free in the snow:<br /> /> <br /> And yes, since I took the photos in the post yesterday we've got another 6-8" on our way to 10-14 inches of fresh snow.  Whoo Hoo!  I still may strap on some good boots and take the little one to the library this afternoon.   We've got to train her to be a real New Englander after all!<br /> <br />2015/02/hey-look-its-another-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-1829167757079506107Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:02:00 +00002015-01-26T13:02:58.941-05:00The Slippery Slopewhoa-  I actually wrote a blog post!  Hard to believe, I know.   In my defense, I've been a bit busy, what with the baby,  the small business and the architecture job "on the side"<br /> <br /> But if you're interested in my thoughts about why people become year-round bikers,  you can find it here:<br /> /> <br /> Hope all are well!  Hopefully I'll be less of a stranger in 2015!2015/01/the-slippery-slope.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-6138659644213247718Sun, 02 Feb 2014 21:23:00 +00002014-02-02T16:23:58.982-05:00Hello again!It seems like forever since I've posted here, mostly because I haven't been riding much unfortunately. <br /> After a bit of a false labor scare in my 32nd week, I stopped biking, and by the time I was cleared to ride again, I felt too big and out of practice to start riding again.<br /> On December 19th my future cycling companion was born by c-section because she was breech and had her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.  I've been a little bit busy since ;) but in a mostly good way.  Fortunately my architecture school ability to go without sleep seems to have survived all these years, although the infrequent naps are much appreciated. <br /> <br /> I'm pretty well up and getting around now, and have been walking increasing distances when it hasn't been terrifyingly cold. I'm fortunate that I live somewhere where I can do a lot of my errands by foot, so I've been walking to the grocery store, the pharmacy, the bank etc.   We have an industrial strength stroller to deal with gnarled brick sidewalks and un-cut granite curbs.  But I find myself more often wearing the baby in a stretchy wrap against my chest, snuggled cozily under my coat with her head near my heart.<br /> <br /> I'm hoping to get the all clear tomorrow from my doctor to start riding ( sans baby) again. Once you're spoiled by the speed and the carrying capacity of a bike, it's hard to resign yourself to the slower pace.<br /> <br /> I've even walked as far as the shop, which is also moving along at a slow winter pace.  However  I'm starting to plan things for the spring, even though that seems like a ways away.  I hope it's going to be a busy year for us, and I know it will be busy with the little one.  One immediate event for anyone local is a ladies' night next Friday.  At the shop (368 Beacon st, Somerville) Friday February 7th 6-8 pm.  Come meet other like minded ladies over drinks and snacks.  The baby girl may attend if she's feeling cooperative.<br /> <br /> Hope to be seeing everyone from the saddle soon!<br /> <br />2014/02/hello-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-4745987255243045972Sat, 05 Oct 2013 20:51:00 +00002013-10-05T16:51:18.529-04:00"Are you getting enough exercise?"My response to that question for years has been "of course"  And riding 30 minutes to work and 30 minutes back at a "sprightly-stately" clip for years has meant that "of course" I was getting plenty of exercise.<br /> <br /> But now, my commute to the bike shop is 11 minutes (yes, I timed it- although it took several tries-I kept forgetting to hit the stop button when I arrived).  That's 22 minutes a day, which is better than many people get, but I probably need more like 30-40 minutes.   I end up riding more on my Monday days off, but not enough to really make up for it.<br /> <br /> So recently I've been doing something I've never done before- purposely trying to add loops to my rides out of my way to add time.   If I go to Whole foods on the way home it takes 20 minutes, which helps, but even I don't need to go to the grocery store every day.<br /> <br /> The reason that the question is pressing is that the Scientist and I are expecting a future cyclist, due at the end of December.   This isn't news to anyone who's seen me in person lately!  , but I haven't yet mentioned it on the blog.   I'm still riding, with the support of my OBGYN,  and one of the joys of running a family friendly bike shop is that not only do I get a lot of support from customers, but I also get to meet a lot of other women who are riding well into their pregnancy.<br /> <br /> I'm mostly riding the Bakfiets- partly because I schlepp so much stuff to and from the shop most days, partly to add a bit of "resistance training" to my ride, and partly because the upright position and large "cockpit" are so comfortable.   I think I've retired Gilbert for the duration- while he's a pretty upright bike, I find I gently graze my belly on the stem when I push forward and raise myself onto the saddle.<br /> <br /> I'm encouraged by how many other pregnant bikers I'm encountering.  I think that for many women to whom biking is a way of life, biking is the most comfortable way to continue to get around, even when walking starts to be less comfortable.  My doctor occasionally bikes to work, so I think she understands that if you're comfortable with your balance, it's not necessarily a bigger falling hazard than walking.  A Dutch woman in the shop the other day commented that in her experience, if you keep riding as your body changes, you can adapt and compensate to those gradual changes.  Plus it's good low-impact exercise.  <br /> <br />  It does really make you conscious of safer biking streets, and desirous of more separated facilities.   I went to a meeting about the proposed cycle tracks around the Boston Public Garden,  and there were some young male messengers who were anti- cycle track, saying that they wanted the "freedom" to bike fast in traffic, and didn't want to feel like they had to ride on the track.  Firstly no one is required to ride on the track,  and secondly,  even the strongest riders get colds, sprain ankles, or are otherwise slowed down (say by pregnancy) on occasion.   And if we're lucky we all get older, and people rarely rider faster and more aggressively as they age!<br /> <br /> I'm not planning anything extreme like riding in snow, or riding myself to the hospital,  but I hope to keep biking as long as it's comfortable and convenient, and we'll see if that's all the way to near the end, or if I feel like I need to stop at 8 months or so. <br /> <br /> And the shop?  Well,  the plan is to have the shop open limited hours during January and February- 3PM to 6PM or so.   Hard to predict since it's my first year, but I suspect those months would be slow anyway.  In February I can probably come in by special appointment, and I hope to be coming in- with the Future Cyclist in tow at least part time in March.  We'll see how that goes.<br /> <br /> <br />2013/10/are-you-getting-enough-exercise.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-4474200760911329708Tue, 20 Aug 2013 16:14:00 +00002013-08-20T12:14:42.199-04:00The Workcycles are Coming! I was tempted to play Paul Revere on my ride in this morning, calling out the news to all as I passed!<br /> After a long process- we probably started at the end of May, and here three months later, the final result of all that agonizing, emailing and skyping  is about to be revealed!<br /> <br /> We're getting 12 bakfietsen.  10 long and 2 short.  We have 5 FR8's coming, and 9 GR8's  and a special order Opafiets.  It was hard for us to predict what the market is/ will be,  so we perhaps were a little cautious on the FR8's and GR8's.  Unlike the Bakfietsen, those can actually be shipped on pallets, so if all else fails, we can get more mid-year.  <br /> <br /> People have been very excited about all these bikes, so I hope I under-ordered and will need to place another order soon.   The whole import process is a bit scary,  but so far it's gone pretty smoothly, hopefully this last stage will go smoothly as well.  I'll post photos as soon as things arrive-<br /> check out @Bikingheels twitter for updates and instagrams of the big reveal!2013/08/the-workcycles-are-coming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-3879969336664574917Sun, 11 Aug 2013 17:25:00 +00002013-08-11T13:25:29.094-04:00The Hungry Hungry BakfietsI was fortunate enough to be able to flag down the family riding with this bike past the shop.  I was curious what brand of bakfiets this was, since I didn't recognize it.  With good reason it turns out, because it was built by its rider after looking at lots of other bakfietsen.   At first he just had a flat platform to which he fastened a child seat, but last winter he built the fabulous box with a caterpillar theme from the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  <br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="; width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="; width="238" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="; width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="; width="238" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="; width="238" /></a></div> <br /> <br />2013/08/the-hungry-hungry-bakfiets.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-7462457862474865203Wed, 24 Jul 2013 18:06:00 +00002013-07-26T12:43:58.900-04:00A Month InWell,  I'm a month into my new routine,  and I thought I'd give an update.  I'm settling into the rhythms of it fairly well.  The slightly later mornings, into which I always try to cram too many things- emails, cooking, cleaning, appointments.   The morning settling in, tidying up, chatting with the UPS or Fedex drivers, generally broken around noon by a couple of people coming by on their lunch hours.   The early afternoon lull in which I follow up on orders or emails and sometimes assemble a bike.  Finally the late afternoon when people start to trickle in between 3 and 6.  Followed by closing up and heading home to make dinner.<br /> <br /> The first couple of weeks were largely marked by the incredible heat, and lack of AC.  I came home every day feeling lightly roasted,  especially on sunny days where the western windows drove the temperatures up dramatically.  After a comedy of errors involving an illegal 220v outlet masquerading as a 110 outlet, Home Depot's incredible return policy and a long hot wait for an installer to put in the new 220 unit, we have nice cold AC,  which is a huge relief.<br /> <br /> People who come in randomly off the street not knowing anything about the shop seem fairly divided.<br /> About half are very interested and excited that such a shop exists.  They gush about how pretty the bikes are or talk nostalgically about the bikes they used to own and the simpler life of three speeds.   Several of these people have bought bikes, and it's a real kick to see them riding by weeks later through the shop windows.<br /> <br /> Another 25% are just window shopping,  not really interested in buying a bike, not having a bike that needs accessories, they're just checking out what's in this funny triangular space.  They like to tell me about the businesses that have failed in this spot.  Cheerful!<br /> <br /> The final 25% are not really interested in this kind of bike and some of them are not afraid to tell me about it.  Like the woman who did a quick lap and then asked me for directions to Wheelworks because she wanted a bike with shocks (!)   Or the guy with stereotypical piercings, tats and facial hair who wanted a fixie because he had a friend with a fixie.  Or most disconcertingly the guy who told me he'd thought about buying a dutch bike, but got a mountain bike instead because dutch bikes were too heavy and impractical.  Those people are better served elsewhere, and fortunately there are a lot of other local shops which can really help them out.<br /> <br /> Beyond the people coming in randomly, I've had a ton of bike-friends, bike acquaintances, and friends of bike friends who had heard about the shop through the blog or through others' blogs or tweets.  Many of these people already own a bike,  but it's still great to see them, and meet some in person after only knowing them through the blogosphere. <br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="; width="239" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry the Shop Dog enjoying the AC</td></tr> </tbody></table> And finally I'm starting to get people coming in who are specifically looking for the products I sell, and have found me through the website.  They call asking if I have the Bobbin birdie in Mint (no, as far as I can tell, it's been discontinued)  or to ask about when the Edgerunners will arrive (mid September).  I am trying to figure out how to boost the signal out to those people.   I've joined up with the Boston Family Bicycling group, and a lot of people from that group have contacted me.  But I need to reach further out, to people who don't necessarily think of themselves as cyclists, but whose lives would be made easier with a comfortable, attractive city bicycle.   I'm still trying to figure out the best ways to do that.  I've gotten a lot of calls from "marketers"  who have all kinds of ways that they promise to increase my profile, for a fee.   But I still need to do some thinking about how to reach the people I'm trying to reach, and I don't think that a yelp ad that pops up when anyone searches for "Bicycle" is really the right tool.<br /> <br /> Working 6 days a week has been an adjustment, and I pack my Mondays off with lots of errands and to-do's.   I definitely don't know everything there is to know about bikes, and I am never going to be someone who has all the details of gear ratios and frame geometry at the tip of their tongue.  But I sometimes have to stop and giggle that I get to spend my days talking to people about bikes all day!2013/07/a-month-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-2362617556564636126Sat, 22 Jun 2013 21:28:00 +00002013-06-22T17:28:27.132-04:00The Big Day!<br /> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> So I'm live-blogging from the opening of Bicycle Belle!  There was a fair bit of scurrying around this morning- getting cash for the cash register, last minute supplies and such.</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> The Scientist helped hang a "Now Open" banner</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> <a data-mce-href="; href=";><img alt="Banner Hanging" class="size-medium wp-image-117 aligncenter" data-mce-src="; height="300" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="223" /></a></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> And I did a few last minute test rides to check bike assemblies that I had done on rainy days and not ridden yet.</div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <img alt="IMG_3653" class="size-medium wp-image-125 aligncenter" data-mce-src="; data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; cursor: default; border-width: 0px;" height="225" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> It's a soft opening-<em> very</em> soft, so far- as I've made only one sale, to M-  who needed a coffee cup holder for Pauline, his <a data-mce-href="2012/06/chance-encounters.html" href="2012/06/chance-encounters.html">Gazelle</a>, and tried out one of the Cleverhoods</div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <img alt="IMG_3644" class="size-medium wp-image-122 aligncenter" data-mce-src="; data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; cursor: default; border-width: 0px;" height="300" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="223" /></div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <br /></div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> Emily fromHub Bikes, our "sister store" to whom we refer repairs, came by,  Mike Flannigan from ANT came by and checked out the Kinn,  and a lot of people just walking by  stuck their heads in.</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> We'll still be getting bikes in over the summer as the <a data-mce-href="; href=";>Paper Bicycles</a> arrive in July and the <a data-mce-href="; href=";>Workcycles </a>Bakfietsen, FR8's and GR8's arrive in August (we hope).</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> But we have lots of Yakkay and Bern helmets in stock:</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="IMG_3639" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-118" data-mce-src="; data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; cursor: default; border-width: 0px;" height="300" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default;" width="223" /></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> Super stylish Vespertine reflective vests-These are on the back wall, and car headlights shining through the front door light them up in the evening.</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="IMG_3647" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-123" data-mce-src="; height="223" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default;" width="300" /></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">  This is what they look like</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">  <img alt="IMG_3643" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-121" data-mce-src="; data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; cursor: default; border-width: 0px;" height="223" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default;" width="300" /></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> And Vespertine reflective pins:</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="IMG_3655" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-126" data-mce-src="; data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; cursor: default; border-width: 0px;" height="223" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default;" width="300" /><img alt="IMG_3642" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-120" data-mce-src="; data-mce-style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; cursor: default; border-width: 0px;" height="224" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default;" width="300" /></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> Stealth tweed scarf looks grey in normal light, but headlights (or flash) light it up</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="IMG_3641" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-119" data-mce-src="; height="300" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default;" width="224" /></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> Yepp kids' seat-s both the front mounted mini, and the rear mounted maxi, and accessories to mount them on any bike</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="IMG_3648" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-124" data-mce-src="; height="300" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default;" width="223" /></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> And of course, leaning towers of baskets:</div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="IMG_3658" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-127" data-mce-src="; height="300" src="; style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default;" width="223" /></div> <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> We'll be open 10-6:00 most days,  12-5 Sunday, and closed on Monday- drop by at 368 Beacon and check us out!</div> 2013/06/the-big-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-6238872700215307882Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:00 +00002013-06-18T22:13:37.856-04:00A Step Sideways for Mass DOTI went to a somewhat disconcerting public meeting this evening.  The project was the reconstruction of the Cambridge St (Allston) overpass over the Mass Pike between Lincoln St and Harvard Ave.  I'd link to the drawings online, but the project team didn't seems to realize that people want to see drawings online, and hadn't made any plans to put them up.<br /> <br />  This is a scary place to bike or walk because in the 1950's, a dense, walkable urban neighborhood was torn in half by a freeway.  Then the planners who designed the freeway "reconnected" the two halves of the neighborhood with an overbuilt 6 lane highway and a scarily isolated, dangerously steep, chainlink enclosed pedestrian bridge.  The sidewalks are crumbling and bordered with chainlink fence and highway style crash barriers.  Because there are too many, too wide lanes, drivers go way too fast, and with crosswalks spaced half a mile apart, pedestrians end up playing chicken to try to get to the bus stop.<br /> <br /> The first shocking thing about this meeting is that while it was the first public meeting any of the advocates knew about, the proposed design was purportedly at 100%.  I guess it's a sign of how much Mass DOT has changed, that public <i>process</i> has gone from a vestigial "this is what we're going to do, like it or lump it" single meeting to an actual process where advocates expect meetings at 25%, and 75% and sometimes even pre-design meetings.  This is important because it becomes harder (more expensive) to make big design changes the further a project goes along, so a bike-ped unfriendly project can be rammed through because it's "too late" to make any changes to a bad initial design.  There was a watershed moment in local advocacy in 2008, when the "Old"  Mass DOT tried to ram a pedestrian and bike- unfriendly plan for the rebuilding of the Cragie Dam/ Museum of Science bridge through by presenting it as "complete"  and the public outcry made them reconsider and made the project better.  The old Mass DOT didn't understand or design for people, they just designed for cars. The new Mass DOT may still be mostly in a car minded design mindset, but they've learned that they need to listen to the people who bike and walk, and make some concessions to allow them to do so safely.<br /> <br /> Anyway, the crew responsible for this meeting were clearly from the old school, and as was explained later in the meeting, this project was designed and contracted for by the old Mass Turnpike Authority, before it was rolled into Mass DOT.  So these engineers wouldn't know a livable street if it bit them, they were all about Level of Service and throughput and crash barrier standards.  They had grudgingly put in bike lanes and put the road on a lane diet to slightly compensate for the fact that the street was 150% overbuilt.  But they obviously hadn't given any real thought to pedestrian and bicycle motions at intersections or midblock.  They'd even made the pedestrian environment less friendly by putting a giant concrete median and chainlink fence down the middle to prevent people from crossing where the side streets connect to this big road.  There have been some tragic pedestrian deaths in this area, but putting a giant fence in the middle of the road is like forcing women to wear the hijab to prevent rape. God forbid we should require the cars to go a reasonable speed and provide safe and frequent pedestrian crossings.<br /> <br /> The good news is that they are putting the road on a lane diet.  At only 27,000 cars per day, 6 lanes was way WAY too big (for a local point of reference, Mass Ave which is 4, and sometimes only 3 lanes carries more than 30,000 cars a day).  The lanes are being "tightened"  to a generous 11'6" and the extra space is going into wider (10') sidewalks and buffered bike lanes.  However the buffer is only a painted stripe zone, basically a glorified shoulder.<br /> <br /> Given the speeds of the cars here (hopefully reduced by the lane diet)  it's not comfortable for bikes to ride right next to 50 mph traffic with only a few painted stripes between them.  Unlike many of the roadways around here, there's actually plenty of width to build cycletracks, and it would be a shame not to provide more protection- either flex posts or a curb to create a safer solution.<br /> <br /> Basically it all comes down to the great saying "If you build for traffic and cars, you get traffic and cars.  If you build for people and places, you get people and places."  Right now Mass DOT is proposing to re-build a half mile long highway through a city neighborhood,  but what the neighborhood needs is a city street that's comfortable for the people who live there.<br /> <br /> The one member of the panel who was from the "new MassDOT" seemed a bit embarrassed by this whole dinosaur of a project, although not embarrassed enough to commit to changes or more public process.  I think that the advocacy groups will attempt to have a meeting with the city of Boston, and Mass DOT  (BTD wasn't really represented, so Mass DOT kept blaming some of the worst features of the design on BTD).  I'm hopeful that some coordination and a bit of thought will mean it's not too late to make this a better project.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />2013/06/a-step-sideways.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-8577753316363158762Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:02:00 +00002013-06-15T16:02:27.110-04:00Can see it from here<br /> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> No, the shop isn't open yet, but I feel like I can see it from here.  Inventory is arriving still, but there's enough here, that it's starting to look like a bike shop!  I made a big push and removed a bunch of bikes from their boxes, and though I haven't assembled them all yet, it made a huge difference in how the space feels- to be full of bikes instead of cardboard boxes.</div> <div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;"> <dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 310px;" id="attachment_20" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 310px;"> <dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="; href=";><img alt="IMG_3606" class=" wp-image-20 " data-mce-src="; height="224" src="; style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="300" /></a></dt> <dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;">With bonus shop dog checking the floor for treats</dd></dl> </div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> My slatwall hooks arrived finally, and I've been randomly putting things up on the walls just to get a sense of how much space everything takes up.  I'll then need to go through and arrange things into a hopefully logical system.  I'll also need to put price tags on, and set up a master "inventory" file.  At this point I'm still ordering some things as a test- because I've seen them online and thought they looked cool, but wanted to see them "in the flesh" before committing to ordering multiples.</div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif;" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif;"><img alt="IMG_3605" class="size-medium wp-image-19 aligncenter" data-mce-src="; data-mce-style="color: inherit; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625; border-style: solid; border-color: #dddddd; cursor: default; margin-top: 0.4em; height: auto; max-width: 97.5%; border-width: 1px; padding: 6px;" height="224" src="; style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: inherit; cursor: default; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; height: auto; line-height: 1.625; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0.4em; max-width: 97.5%; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px;" width="300" /></span>I've had a fairly steady stream o<span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif;" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" data-mce-style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">f visitors.  I assembled a couple of bikes for Velouria of Lovely Bicycle, and she came by to review them,  and also did a test ride and review  of my bakfiets, which you can read <a data-mce-href="; href="; target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> It hasn't all been unpacking fun merchandise shipments.  I've been having to do some basic maintenance already.  The front door turned out to have an unpleasant habit of falling off its hinges if you opened it too widely- say to bring in a bakfiets,  and so I had to have it replaced.  And then the glass guy dropped the door while it was off its hinges, so then he had to replace the glass.  I also had to replace the faucet on the sink upstairs because it was leaking all over the floor.  I can also tell you a lot more about credit card processing than you probably want to know!  I was originally hoping to be open for this weekend, but that's looking like it won't happen, especially since I managed to wrench my back and am on strict orders not to lift any bikes or heavy boxes today!  But I definitely am getting close- will let everyone know as soon as I'm open!</div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <br /></div> <div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <br /></div> 2013/06/can-see-it-from-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-5712445610583589868Sat, 25 May 2013 21:03:00 +00002013-05-25T17:03:37.515-04:00Riding in a new directionAs the many of you who I've seen in person in the last couple of weeks already know,  I'm in the process of making a big change in my life.   After 16 years of making my living as an architect, I've quit my job, and am starting on another path, running a bicycle shop specializing in transportation cycling.<br /> <br /> As longtime readers and locals know, Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, and environs have a flourishing transportation bicycling scene.  More and more people are realizing that a bicycle is the most convenient way around a dense and parking- challenged city, as well as being healthy, green and fun! So it's almost shocking that there's no place in town to test-ride a bakfiets, and very few where you can buy a traditional step through city bike with fenders, chainguard, rack and lights built in.  There also aren't many places that focus on bicycling with kids, which I think is increasingly needed as people who bike everywhere start families and want to continue their cycling lifestyle, and pass it along to their kids.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="; width="200" /></a></div> <br /> So, I'm going to try to fill that gap with a new shop called Bicycle Belle.   I've rented space on a prime cycling route- the corner of Beacon St and Oxford St (368 Beacon) on the Somerville/ Cambridge line; hopefully soon to be the head of the new cycletrack.  It's freshly painted and I've replaced the fluorescent tubes with decorative lights.  I'm in the process of ordering bikes and accessories, installing shop fixtures and generally getting things sorted and set up.  It's been a busy couple of weeks, both before I quit my job, and this first week that I'm working full time on the shop.<br /> <br /> The first boxes of accessories and the first set of bikes will arrive next week, and we'll be getting bikes through the summer as longer lead time european bikes (Workcycles and Paper bikes)  start to trickle in.<br /> <br /> It's a big scary leap into the unknown, as I know absolutely nothing about retail- I never even worked in a shop in high school- I was a waitress instead!   But it's something I have a passion for, something I follow obsessively in my free time, and something I hope that the city needs and wants.  I've already had some ups and downs, and I'm sure that will continue, as I learn the ropes and figure out the industry, the retail business and the market.   I hope that I can provide a real service to people looking for these kinds of bikes, and maybe even make a living doing it.  I just have to trust that I can figure out all the details along the way!<br /> <br /> I'm incredibly grateful to the support of my family, the Scientists' family (my family too now!) my bikey friends who have been giving support- especially Velouria from Lovely Bicycle who has been meeting with me for months helping me plot and scheme.   And more than anyone the Scientist,  who is not only taking on the responsibility of supporting us while I get this off the ground, but has enthusiastically encouraged me through all the planning and dreaming and teeth-gnashing.<br /> <br /> I don't have a firm opening date, but I expect it will be in the month of June.  I suspect that this blog may become a diary more about opening a bike shop than riding, as I work to make it all happen.<br /> Please let me know if you have any suggestions for inventory or other ideas, and I hope to see those of you in the Boston area at the shop once it's open for business!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />2013/05/riding-in-new-direction.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-2701804059150108711Wed, 15 May 2013 13:23:00 +00002013-05-15T09:23:05.807-04:00Louis CK on "Different Values"If you haven't seen this yet, you should really check it out- Louis CK talking about windshield perspective and how it completely distorts human interactions<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='; frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <br />2013/05/louis-ck-on-different-values.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-8323435575716590074Wed, 15 May 2013 01:58:00 +00002013-05-14T22:01:35.408-04:00I've been distractedI've been distracted recently in the nicest possible way.  First I went to Scotland.  The Scientist was giving a talk in Edinburgh, and we've always wanted to go to Scotland, so I tagged along and we made a vacation of it.  The landscape was fantastic, the weather was cold, the newborn lambs were adorable, and we did rather a lot of driving to see a lot of territory in a short time.  It's a gorgeous place, and next time I'm there I think I want to camp out in one place and just get to know a smaller area.<br /> <br /> I was kind of surprised that there wasn't more of a biking culture in Edinburgh.  I didn't see much in the way of infrastructure, and most of the people on bikes were in hardcore commuter mode with spandex and fluorescent rainwear.   I saw an old rod- braked Pashley, and a brand new Pashley poppy parked across the street from one another.  The Scientist met someone at the university who had a bakfiets, so maybe it was just cruddy weather and the wrong part of town for it.<br /> <br /> Then we got back and I've been working like crazy on an exciting project that's the subject of another post....<br /> <br /> But now it's bike week, and I've been celebrating as I do most weeks, by riding my bike!<br /> I met with Velouria from Lovely Bicycle on Monday to discuss my project, and then we ended up swapping bikes, with her trying my bakfiets and me riding her Brompton.<br /> <br /> Today I just did a boring old ride to work, with bonus compost drop off, because the main "event" in my area, the Broadway Bicycles pancake breakfast gets going too late for me to make it and have a hope of getting to work on time.   Tomorrow (Wednesday) though is the Harvard sq bike breakfast, which always has good food and the best swag (sponsored by the university).  Thursday is the Kendall Sq area breakfast, which is right on my normal route, so I see a lot of familiar faces.   And finally Friday there's the big breakfast at Boston city hall,  which is always fun.<br /> <br /> Hope to see more familiar faces these next couple of days.  I'll be riding the Bakfiets if anyone wants to check it out!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />2013/05/ive-been-distracted.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cycler)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356723782465446786.post-3823433759432500303Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:40:00 +00002013-04-18T08:44:56.938-04:00Purple SneakersSo many people biking these last couple of weeks!  It's still chilly in the morning, but definitely getting warmer, and we've been lucky to have pretty dry weather (don't know what that means for the May flowers).<br /> <div> <br /></div> <div> While stopped at a light, I chatted a bit with this gentleman about the weather and our different strategies.  I had no jacket, but gloves on, he had a heavy jacket, but no gloves.  He was ridi

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