feb. 1, 2013...

Happy Hyggelig Thanksgiving!...

It was an OUTSTANDING Day for a ride.
I'm always Thankful for Thanksgiving Day rides,
today was no exception.
60 degrees
Sunny
Calm.
Ahhhh...sigh...
Perfection!

and,
true to Minnesota form,
6 hours later it began snowing.
so it begins...

we are addicted...

Today's plans include our new hangout.
We are addicted,
and H has NEVER EVER liked coffee.
It's that good.

Hooray for Saturday!

daily life...

If you live in Minneapolis there are two things

that enhance daily life.

Adam Turman's art and

The Current.

This year the two have combined,

check it out here.

I bought Bridges Blue/Red for H as a gift a few years ago.

Having this print in our house

is a daily reminder of what 

enhances 

life

in

Minneapolis.

Even when/Especially when,

my most dreaded season is upon us.

my new theme song...

If you knew me,
you would know that
I like
my salty snacks.

And I am not alone...

These kids didn't know they were doing it,
but they made my theme song!

bicycleness...

There is so much bicycleness going on in this town right now,

I can barely catch my breath,

but it makes me smile...

Open Streets Minneapolis is today.

See you there!

bike after work day...

i need my meditation

so I can enjoy my socialization


i didn't bike to work today,
i really don't do that these days.
more important to me
is biking after work.
unwinding,
meditating,
sun time,
me time.
no computers,
no e-mails,
no smart phones,
no complaints.
i need this time,
so i can hang
with my bikish friends,
who do bike to work,
and everywhere.
we all do our own thing.
respect it.
i do...

home...

I have been to my fare share of cheesy Scandinavian Festivals,

And I am a recovering Museum Professional,

so I have lived many a day inside an Art Museum.

It takes a lot to impress me on either front.

So it was with slight reluctance

that I found myself 

on a cold February day a few years ago

at the American Swedish Institute

looking for something new

something special

something to take me away.

I fell in love instantly.

health and happiness...

I have been taking some time to take care for myself.

When you are 41,
you shouldn't mess around.
Take care of who you are 
in 
every 
aspect
of 
the 
word.

snap out of it?...

Mill Valley was named #4 in the top cities to live this week.

When I showed the article to my colleague and said

"this is why I get depressed sometimes",

they quoted Moonstruck and said "snap out of it".

That is so true, 

I totally get it.

I mean, it's been almost 6 years!
I think all the time that people shouldn't dwell on things and 'snap out of it' myself.
But it was number one in our book.

harumphy...

So, Christmas is over
and I am feeling a bit harumphy.
I really shouldn't complain,
I mean look at the loves of my life up there!
Who can complain when this is your reality?!!
But...
I always dislike Christmas a bit.
Family drama I try to avoid, and then the guilt for avoiding.
I always feel a bit relieved when it is all over,
ready to move on to longer days
and Summer.

I really shouldn't complain,
I mean look at the weather we have been having!
50+ degrees and Sunny the day after Christmas?
Why...I feel so NorCal...

and YOU KNOW that makes this gal so happy.
So Happy.

I really shouldn't complain,
I have two great adventures planned in the next two months,
and a work trip is brewing to return to my hyggelig.
I have a lot to be excited about.

But then that winter melancholy sets in...
We used to be all about adventuring,
now it seems more like we have been forced to be about maintaining.
In a nutshell, it sucks.
I can take all that damn vitamin d,
throw that sunlamp on in the morning,
think positive thoughts,
plan trips,
but at the end of the day some days,
it just plain sucks.
There, I said it.
Now, on to being less harumphy...


Time to lose the winter weight,
get that head screwed back on tight,
and start figuring it out.
At 40.5, that clock waits for no one...

I am not sure where my hyggelig is headed in 2012.
I have been here for 5 years,
in fact this is post #681.
Typically at this time I take a hiatus,
to focus on life outside of the computer box.
I think I will continue that trend this year.
Right now I have no friday hyggelig's lined up,
no guest posts,
nothing.
I need to refocus.

I've got something pretty exciting planned for myself in January.
Something to teach me new things, take me out of my comfort zone,
to meet new people, to be independent.
I plan to be back here to talk about either how it completely inspired me or
how it completely deflated me. Likely the first...

Thank you to all of you who have stuck with me despite my divergent posts on biking, sewing, biking, family, biking, gardening, biking, art, biking... I may not have a singular focus, be controverisal, like to debate, or a professional bent, but the fact I have been here so long says something about this space. When I discuss quitting blogging with H, he so kindly always asks why I would want to and extolls all the great things about blogging. That's from a man who only tweets. Recognizing what makes us who we are, focusing on what is important, sharing that with others ~ that's what it is all about.

And thank you also to you newbies to my hyggelig. I see you out there, and I appreciate your visits. May you find something in this space in 2012.

For now,
I am officially ON HIATUS...
see you back here in 2012..

Thank You Stellar November...

Trek, Minneapolis, & Me
2012.11.25

I am really thankful
for having a few nice long days off.
AND
the stellar November weather this year.
Holiday rides are always the best,
quiet,
reflective,
meditative.
Holiday rides over Thanksgiving?!
Now those can never be beat.
Especially,
when you live in Minnesota,
and this time last year
winter
had already set in,
and hard...

I needed this time.
Each ride makes me feel better
physically
and mentally.


The only bummer is that we had one snow
and of course it became ice and required
lots of sand and salt that is still on the trails.
I found myself riding on the margins to stay out of the
wet and sand for most of my rides this long weekend.
Luckily as I turned to head home there was this nice stretch
of sand-free and sun-filled bliss.

Trek will probably be staying inside now,
and out of the salt and sand.
November,
it was fun while it lasted...

This was an accidental picture I took.
I rather like it.

repair and respect...

For about the last two months of riding season
(which sadly I have deemed as officially over)
I had this nagging problem when I was out riding.
I ride a lot in this zone, and every time I did,
the bike began to have a mind of its own.

In early September I had a cable issue
that essentially turned my bicycle ride
into a fixie ride for a number of miles
until I could limp into my usual shop.
I thought the change in cables after this would solve the issue,
but it kept getting worse.

Anytime I could bring the Trek in, I wanted to ride,
so I just kept suffering through the annoyance.
Finally, after I rolled 1000, it was time.

H and I like to support good people doing good things,
so Trek was taken to a new shop.
I was a bit nervous because a lot of bicycle shop dudes
don't really speak 'girl speak' and turn to the guy to have a conversation.
Especially when they race together during Cross Season,
or so I feared.

Not Dan.
I told Dan my issues, and it was instantly clear he knows A LOT about bicycles.
I asked him to keep the Trek for a few days to really diagnose the issue.
He came back with another cable replacement
and a gold 'tooth' (ferrule).

And then, the snow set in.

So I haven't been able to get her out for a ride,
but I did officially begin my QTT this weekend
and she shifted with grace.
The forecast is predicting Sunny and 53 on Thanksgiving.
I think you know where I will be...

I appreciate that Dan treated me with complete respect.
And when I had stopped to take my cassette picture,
two groups of male riders yelled out "Everything Okay?"
to me as they passed by.
I always appreciate the bicycling community,
the fact that folks have got my back,
and knowing I am not out there alone.
And yes,
I was MORE thank OKAY,
I was on my bicycle and it was a beautiful day.

Trek and I have been together for nearly 4000 miles.
I think in the Spring she is going to need more than a cable.
I am looking forward to giving her some tweaks,
and taking her with me for the next 4000...

color, please...

I pretty much want to crawl inside
of the new J.Crew Catalog
and walk back out looking like this.

Life used to be black and white for me.
Black clothes.
White walls.
Until one NorCal day when I needed a raincoat,
and H pushed me into the blue.
I've never looked back.

Living in Minnesota,
I am thankful I began to embrace color,
because I NEED it here.

Winter,
here you come...
You test me everytime.
Color,
please carry me through...

lovely, lovely, lovely...

Lexa basking in the morning Sun

Yesterday was BeaUtiful.
I woke up to SUN
Hopped on Lexa
and rode off in warmth.

A Lovely, Lovely, Lovely
Morning.

turned in to...

very ready for happy hour...(that's Lexa there looking so "City" up on the bars..)

A Lovely, Lovely, Lovely
Day...

I have not been here much lately
because I have been busy
helping to organize a board retreat.
It has been a great experience for me.
The day went well.
The people great as always.
The conversation lively, engaging, smart, funny.

But what I enjoyed most of all was our ride after the meeting
over to happy hour.
I do not often ride with other people,
but there were 10 or so of us, silently gliding,
smiling, laughing, chatting,
out riding our bicycles.
It was a moment for me to cherish,
though not captured on film besides this,
it is forever captured in my heart.

What is better than bicycling?
Bicycling friends.

40 +1000 +...

I am pretty freakin' proud of myself.

Let's backtrack a bit...
-I am 40
and I have had a heck of a stressful first half of that.
-The key early summer months in Minneapolis were hindered by winter,
Summer really did not arrive until the week of July 4th.
Because of those two points,
my riding season was purposefully reduced.

I am not a hugely goal oriented gal,
but sometimes in life
you need to set goals for yourself.


Goal 1:
Knowing I would never match the feats
of my last two summers~
1400 miles
AND
1500 miles
I did have in mind
that a nice cool 1000
(hmmms sounds familiar)
would be respectable after a year like this.
Come hell or highwater,
with each ride
I could feel it getting closer
and closer
until it was down to that deceptively easy 300...

Goal 2:
To be able to ride through the end of October.
I need to set myself up for that winter weight gain
by going into it with what I like to feel is a respectably awesome me.
Usually by August I am looking
and feeling
fit
and can enter winter
knowing I will gain a few pounds despite my best efforts,
but I will be okay.
NOT SO EASY WHEN YOU ARE 40 and had a year like I have had.
I feel like I already have that winter weight, and I'm not happy about it.
But one thing that was important to me
was to at least get as much riding in as I could before the end of October.

I am proud to say I met both of my goals and I am a very happy girl.
I've been giving myself a mental pat on the back ever since Sunday.
At about the same time
and about the same place
as last year,
I quietly rolled 1000.
I stopped my bicycle,
gave myself a mental embrace,
and proudly kissed the Trek again.

One of the best things I ever did for myself
was to let H talk me into a road bicycle.
One of the second best things I have ever done for myself
was to use it.
I can't explain the elation I have felt for the last three years.
What I have accomplished has been beyond any goal I ever imagined.
One step at a time,
life begins to embrace us,
or we it.
Time passes.
I feel like 20-40 went in fast forward.
Where did it all go?
It's a difficult reconciliation.
But one thing I will never regret
is taking care of me,
accomplishing my goals,
and being the best me where I am now.

I love good design,
and dressing the part.
But even more right now,
I love fast bicycles
and lycra.
There is a time and a place.

I am much more fit at 40
than I ever was at 20.
Mentally maybe I'm struggling a bit,
physically this year I may be struggling a bit.
But some days I freakin' rock it.

Thank you fast lovin' lycra gal...

ps this doesn't include the miles I put on Lexa.
in fact, a few hours later we biked off to a bikish meeting together...

i do bikey things...

i do bikey things...
one of my recent bikey things
has been coordinating the launch of
the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition's very first t-shirt.

shameless plug:
the MBC has a membership deal going on right now
join
and get one of our t's for free.
sounds good eh?
if you live in Minneapolis -
do it
if you live anywhere else -
do it

it takes a lot to get a successful organization off the ground and running
i am proud to count myself as part of this group
i hope you will be too.

now back to regularly scheduled programming...

me, him, us...

me: 40 years 6 months
him: 41 years
us: 16 years

nothing better than a lover's ride
with your sweetie
on your anniversary.

H, you've been pushing me for 16 years,
and today was no exception,
thanks for the nice ride,
today,
and always.

last days of 'freedom'...

This is from a zen ride I had a couple of weeks ago.
I am hoping to have more of the same this weekend,
but suspect there will be more color in my field of vision.

Monday brings a new routine for this family,
H returns to the world of the employed.
And not only that, he returns to the world of
cubicles, copy machine chatter, and parking spaces,
he has worked from home for nearly a decade.
This is a big deal,
for all of us,
and it is time.

It has been a long ten months.
I lightened up on the bicycling this summer
and focused on our family,
but my 40 year old waist doesn't like it.
Time to hit the bicycle riding hard for the next few weeks
before winter sets in.
Though my cycle computer has logged 755 miles this year,
that's half where I have been the last couple of years.

More exactly,
it's been a hell of a long 5 years.
Minneapolis has at times brought me to my knees.

I have just never recovered from losing NorCal,
This annoys me to no end.
But it is Time to really move on...
To continue the work I have been doing on myself,
reflected in this space,
and for US to advance ourselves and do better.

It is not about letting go,
it is about releasing.
It Is Time.

We are excited for what the future brings, finally.
This fall is feeling like a rebirth.
A time to focus.
A time to nest.
A time to get fit.
A time to plan.
It feels good to turn down a new road,
and begin again...

Happy Friday Everyone!!!
At least it is for me.
H and I are celebrating his last days of 'freedom',
and our wedding anniversary,
by simply being together.

Enjoy those Autumn Colors and
the delicate and warm Autumn Sun!

good things make life better...

Late Summer Nights: Sunny on the way there. Dark on the way home.

we have had a LOVELY string of late SUMMER weather.
I had put on our schedules awhile ago a lecture I wanted to attend.
so I arrived home from work,
put on my favorite cycling skirt,
and off H and I went.

easy peasy parking - dusk to dark

there are many reasons why we rode our bicycles:
1. We live about 4 miles from the destination, an easy peddle on over.
2. Parking at the University is a pain and expensive, not so with a bicycle.
3. I needed to move my body.
4. It is a fun thing to do together, much more fun than sitting in the car.
5. With this gorgeous weather, how could one not want to get out and enjoy it?

I realized later that it was fitting I wore my favorite Japanese fabric skirt.
I want to make more of these skirts,
the waist is a little higher and I shortened the pattern to the perfect length,
both work swell when I feel the need to slip on bicycle shorts underneath
(like on a hot Summer's night going to a lecture when I didn't want sweat stains).

If you haven't noticed on this blog,
I have a thing for art, design, and architecture.
I also have a thing that's been brewing for awhile
for Japan.
I hope to continue to focus on those things here
because they are what make me me,
make my days more interesting,
stretch my brain,
and make the world a better place.

photo: Atelier Bow-Wow "Pony Garden"

Atelier Bow-Wow is my new favorite.
I learned so much at this lecture.
Most of all I appreciate their approach to architecture and space.
What a wonderful thing when the spaces we move in
change our behaviors for the better.
If we all could be so lucky to spend time in one of their spaces,
what a better place the world would be...