REAL TIME WRECK

Late to bed, early to rise. Coming back from vacation two time zones away, maybe our inner clocks are just screwed up. I baked my muffins (important to do it early before it gets hot outside) and then left for my first bike ride in two weeks. In preparing for an early June 83-mile ride in Sandpoint with old friend, Phil Role, I had ridden myself into pretty decent shape so I was eager to hit the road (but not literally). Unfortunately it didn't go well. My front tire went flat on the trip back home. I pumped it up at the bottom of Critchfield which left me with a mile and a quarter climb up to the house. When I got to South Slope I was still a little short of my 30 mile goal so I rode up it (about .4 mile) and then blasted back down. I went into the last curve at about 27 mph and the front tire had again leaked enough to roll so down I went for about a 30 foot slide across the pavement. What a bummer! I've got so much road rash I probably won't be able to swim for a while - and it's supposed to 105 tomorrow. Time to go to the farm.

I spent yesterday taking care of the car after our long road trip -- changed the oil, washed and detailed here at the house, then had the tires rotated and got that nasty little chip in the window repaired. Kathy moved stuff from under the bed in Hallie's room and stashed the dishes we brought from Memphis there. Carol and Max have graciously given Hallie a full set of Bavarian china from Grandma Bennie's collection as a wedding gift -- "Elegance" (white with platinum edging) by Royal Castle China.

I'm getting along fine after the crash -- don't worry. MW

UNBIRTHDAYS

What a day! I got up feeling rather blue anyway and the day just didn't seem to unfold in a productive way. A project just wasn't working out the way I thought it should. I was confused about a percentage discount. The chocolate birthday cake I made from scratch didn't turn out. Messages to my friend kept coming back to my inbox marked "permanently fatal errors." (That sounds terrible, doesn't it?) I was beginning to think I might just be losing it. And if I wasn't losing it, would I ever be really good at anything?

After lunch, I decided I should get out of the house – take my bike ride. Despite Mike's calls, Nellie came with me. She ran ahead of me, eagerly watching for me at bends in the road and corners. I don't like to take her because I can't control her, but it was obvious she really wanted a good run. So, past Curfman's and down Miller Road we went -- all the way to the end without incident. On the way back, it was clear Nellie was getting hot but still keeping up well. I was just approaching the Miller's – had geared to get the most momentum from the downhill before the uphill – when my bike locked up somehow. Looking down I noticed my right shoelace was caught in the chain. I was grateful to see it was not entangled; it had just happened. As my bike came to a standstill, I realized I would need to act quickly. I quelled the rising panic – the fear of falling -- and realized that it was important to move my left foot from the clip, which was not my inclination. I managed to get my left foot onto the ground and save myself from a spill. I fixed my shoe lace, got back on the bike, and whizzed down the hill, only to throw my chain when I shifted on the uphill. Mike has always been with me when I've thrown the chain before. It took me a few minutes to figure out what I had to do, but I was eventually successful and able to ride on home. Nellie waited for me while I made the repairs.

When we got back, Nellie spent a good bit of time at the pond. Mike and I agreed she should not be scolded for coming with me. The run was punishment enough.
Here's a picture of Nellie taken yesterday at Cottonwood Butte -- especially for Deb. I had deleted it – I don't think it's very flattering – but it was still in the recycle bin. Something in the rocks caught her attention.