Denver shout out's +...

bike share at the Taxi Lofts,
one of our property scouting stops in March.

We lived in Denver for many years.
It has changed A LOT since we left.
We rode our bicycles often there,
as we have everywhere we have lived.
And on occassion I commuted to work,
as I have done everywhere we have lived.
I never found the options terribly grand,
but they were not bad.
When we were back in Denver in March
deciding about major life changes,
we were impressed with the bicycle improvements that have come about
in the years since we left,
but felt Denver still has a long way to go
to get close to Minneapolis.
However, with each day, new and exciting things are happening
in a lovely city with lovely weather~
the good foundations of a bicycle friendly city
for us more fickle design and weather-minded folk.

A good friend of H's is taking the leap into the bicycle lane,
living in a way, our dream,
and opening a shop that can you believe it?...
Sells the kind of bicycles I once only dreamed of
being available in the US!
They sell Pashley's for goodness sake!
I held on to my Pashley for the very reason I might be spending more time in Denver.
Denver is a great city for such a bicycle.
The Denver part didn't happen, but the Pashley is still here waiting for me.

So Denver,
get your bicycle over to
The Mindful Bike tomorrow for the grand opening,
support simple bicycles for everyday use.
It is an exciting day indeed!
Congratulations Jason!
Next time we are in town, you know where we will be...


H is always a good hyggspotter for me,
yesterday he came upon another Denver spot,
Urbanistic Tea and Bike.
Check it out.

Sounds like y'all in Denver could really make a weekend of it!


Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images
Look, Thor had a flat this week too!

And I talk so much about this guy,
I think he deserves his own tag.
H is aware of my fondness for ALL things Scandinavian, so hyggspots in this realm for me too...
My boy Thor had a glorious first week at the Tour.
We really suffer from our lack of cable tv this time of year,
A week from today is really the coup de grâce
If you are in Minneapolis, live coverage can be found here.

Photo: © Bettini

*Update: THOR's the Man!!


And lastly,
H's mates are over at the Capital tomorrow.
Come on over and support cycling in Minnesota,
and celebrate the end of the shutdown!

Happy Friday Everyone!
It's been a busy week.
8 more hours...
Looking forward to the weekend,
98 degrees and all (savor, savor, savor!).
Enjoy and ride safe!

good ol' Denver...

It's Wednesday and it's been a long week.
We all deserve a happy tune, don't we?!


Denver kicks out some good stuff now and again.
Thanks Lumineers, and thanks to The Current!


On another note,
last night was my best bicycle ride of the year.
41 is feeling a little creeky this year, but
Damn I love when the Sun is out!

Palm Springs: Prologue...

There are two things I love.
The Sun and Mid-Century Modern.

When we lived in Denver
we owned our dream home.
It was the late 90's/early 2000's
and no one was really paying any attention
to Mid-Century Modern.
But we were,
and we loved it.
Our house was like nothing we had ever seen before,
we were beyond excited to own such a gem.
Despite the fact that the house had not been cared for
and needed all sorts of work,
we loved her
and we began to dive in on making her our own.

life...

The better part of the last three months
we have spent extremely stressed out.
Life has thrown us one of those curve balls
and we have been working through the stages
of what to do and where to go.
In these moments you have to look at the beauty
and this is exactly what I found myself doing
when I was summoned to Denver
and found myself there 24 hours later
for an intensely emotional 36 hours.

Life
is
what happens
when
you least
expect
it.

end or beginning?..

It was H's birthday yesterday.
The last of the 30's...
We are not big into frivolous gifts,
but some thoughtful surprise gifts are always fun.
H took me to a Green Day concert back in our Denver days.
We were in our late 20's and we were still older than 90% of the crowd,
but so what - these boys ROCKED it!
And they are from the Bay,
so what can I say ~ we have a soft spot.

And, the gift of hopes and dreams
can always be fun for a few hours...


On a bicycle note...
Those days out there are sure getting shorter!
I tried to tuck in an hour ride last night
and had the lights on half-way through!
Ahhh....but it was beautiful.
And riding all summer
is making me feel like a buff rock star.
I'm loving the power!
Yes, sir, that is a girl on your wheel,
are you going to pedal or do I need to
smoke you right here right now?!
I think I will smoke you...
goodbye.

For those of you in Minneapolis this weekend.
Nice Ride will be at the Minneapolis Bike Tour.

I don't think so...

"Hello?
"Hello m'am, we can not make the exchange, the shoe size you want is out of stock"
Uh, I DON'T THINK SO...
One of the biggest mistakes a man can make is to tell a woman you do not have the shoes she wants in stock.
One of the second biggest mistakes a man can make is to think she is going to believe you.
It was touch and go, my heart temporarily sank, but the Twins are headed my way.
Camper, my love for you grows stronger - see you in a few days my pretties.

Drugs, community service, and bicycles here.
Community service and bicycles here.
Denver and bicycles here.
I'm not naive, I'm not stupid, but I'm kind of getting into this.

*Addendum update in honor of Matt - here.
Now a shoe just seems silly.

holding a memory...

During our time in Denver
we had a moment to visit
one of my old stand-by shops.
Immediately,
H spotted this necklace
and wanted to buy it for me
as a birthday gift.
How could I refuse?
I love how it hangs
and the simplicity
and whimsy of it.
Collecting jewelery
when one travels
captures a moment
and forever holds the memory.

More about the artist here.