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.

coffee, color, hyggelig...

My Heath Newsletter arrived filled with happy color.
I enjoyed reminiscing for a few moments over coffee this morning.
I would love to have one of these to brighten my everyday.
And now to continue with my coffee and thinking about
my hyggelig...

Happy Friday Everyone!
May your weekend be filled with
coffee, color and your hyggelig.

lycra best...

lycra week

I have always had a bicycle
I have not always been a bicyclist.
I have always loved bicycling
I have not always been in to bicycling.
I have always been on a bicycle
I have not always been about a bicycle.

When I reflect I see
that bicycles
were always there.
When I lived in NorCal
the bicycle bug really began to bite,
but I had a bad back
so I headed to Berkeley and bought
Lil'C.
We rode a bit together,
sometimes in Marin,
sometimes to The City,
but we never took each other
super seriously.
H and I rode our tandem
back then,
and it was a blast.

But it was not until the move
to Minnesota
that I knew I would need
salvation.
Leaving my hyggelig behind
sent me into a tailspin
it took two years to get out of.
And when I had been through the worst
of it, began reaching to pull myself up,
I had the time to find myself.
It is in these darkest times
we strengthen who we are
learn to appreciate each day
and strive to make a better tomorrow.
If I had not fallen from my tippity Cali Top,
and reached my Minnesota bottom,
would biking still have been there for me?
Yes,
but to what degree?

In the last two years I have ridden
alone
nearly 2500 miles.
I have had a lot of time to think
in my lycra best.
My head is almost where I want it to be,
I have found my zen,
and life has become mine again...

the thing that makes me happy...

lycra week

it was a cold winters night
i was trapped inside
with nothing to do
but dream
i went through the looking glass
walked into my old backyard
the roads of Mt. Tam.
and I was inspired,
the journey began.

You see,
I know where Liz is,
I've been there,
but I was not the cyclist
then
that I am now.
and I am not the cyclist
now
that I want to be.

At 38 I was
in the best shape of my life
At 39 I am
keeping the momentum
going
At 40 I will
ride the roads I choose
and be
the person I want.

lycra,
it is
a
state of mind...

hyggelig visit...

Don't worry boys!
I'll come back...

Wishing you were with me!

I'm off to my Hyggelig...
see y'all in a few days!

Friday Hyggelig...

miraculous events...

a few miraculous events have occurred this week...
See that dirt there in the picture on the left that looks like it is the size of a road?
Well it used to BE a road! USED to...
See that pavement on the right there? That's a bicycle path.
Miraculously, the city of Minneapolis took out about 90% of the cross roads on one of the bicycle paths I frequent and replaced it with a 90% continuous bicycle path!
Why is that awesome?
1. Because the city is not about catering to cars.
2. Because there are 90% less of these annoying bumpy things:

on the bicycle trail
(yes that is a Bixi bicycle...more on that later...)


Second, thanks to H, I witnessed a cicada emerge from its shell right there on our fence yesterday. Pretty trippy stuff. Quite miraculous really...


Third, See that rain in the picture on the left? Well, it rained like that for 3 days straight this week and the temps were in the low 60's. I felt like I was in NorCal in December. Normally I wouldn't mind feeling like I am in CA, but the problem with it was, it is supposed to be August in Minnesota. What gives?
Miraculously, the Sun is out this morning and H and I plan to make my longest Trek (play on words there...) of the year.
If I make it, more on that later....

Off we go.

Have a great weekend everyone!

itchy...

Sometimes living in the Midwest I start feeling itchy.
Since scratching an itch only makes it worse,
I try to just let the itch subside.
Maybe because it is the height of summer,
Maybe because travel plans were dampened this year,
but that darn itch keeps coming back lately.

I miss the endless horizon of the Pacific.

I miss the top of the Mt.

I miss going North

and I miss going South

Most days I have won over this home sickness,
but this week I feel reflective.
Since traveling to my hyggelig place
is a bit out of reach right now,

the next best thing is to take that itch
and give it a local scratch.

the rest of my life...

H and I used to go by here often
he on his rides with the team
or the three of us on the way to the beach.
I could pretty much spend the rest of my life
sitting right here
with a smile on my face...

your page...

Some of the best advice I ever received was from a Scotsman who said to me:
Keep your eyes on your own page
So simple and so wise.

I am not a follower of celebrity, but I think of this when I read about Gwyneth.
Who cares what she's doing, as long as she is happy and fulfilled
It's her life to live, not ours
I'm happy for her
keep your eyes on your own page

Or when I read the words of John Robbins:
If we don't become more compassionate as a collective, as a society,
there is going to be incredible suffering.
And I think that if, as individuals,
we don't use our suffering to become more compassionate people,
we will have missed an opportunity.
keep your eyes on your own page


It would be so nice to see more support for those around us
rather than pulling ourselves up by putting others down
keep your eyes on your own page

hyggelig sweet hyggelig...

sigh...
my heart skips a beat
I am transported
hyggelig...

warm at heart...

Soon my beloved lake will be frozen over and the silence of winter will have arrived.
This weekend Minnesotans officially gave in, pulled out their down coats, their winter hats, their mittens, and their scarfs.
I spent the better part of my weekend exercising in cold weather, searching out edible Mexican food, contemplating winter clothing to wear while exercising in cold weather, and figuring out how bicycles will factor into my winter sanity.
So, I think it is time to kick off my Winter Prep series...

Winter Prep Installment 1
(Do not fear, this will be my longest post...)
If you occasionally tune in to my hyggelig, you know two things about me:
1. I left my heart in San Francisco (cliche, but true)
2. My heart broke when I left a Skeppshult in Sweden
Well, since the day my heart broke at a bicycle shop in Stockholm, I have waited for winter to set in so I could restart my bicycle search. Everyone knows I think winter is a swear word, but yes - I was also waiting for it to come. It is, after all, inevitable here.
So, to recap...I would say much of my criteria remains the same after all these months:
-a basic bike to get around town for errands
-a bike that is Dutch-inspired
-a bike that does not break my bank
-a bike that if stolen would not leave me heart broken forever
-a bike that I can ride up the hills
-lighter is good for me
-a bike I can go further than 2 miles on, but no need to go 30
-a chain guard
-a hand break; front and rear breaks
-fenders
-nicely designed
For all these reasons, my thoughts have turned of late to the Gary Fisher Simple City.

A couple of weeks ago H and I went for a ride and stopped in at Freewheel on the Greenway and there we saw my first step-through Simple City. It was too big for me, but I liked the look. It was pearl white and had aqua fenders and chain guard.
Today we stopped over at the original Freewheel and as always, I received great customer service. I had to chuckle a little after the visit - I think this was the first time in my life when I was in a bike store when I knew more about bikes (Dutch-style of course) than the staff...

H forgot to snap some photos, but here is my synopsis of the Simple City:
I test rode the 3 speed.
-Though the seating position did not seem as comfortable as the real deal, there is potential - I would add a rise stem and perhaps new handlebars.
-The gear shift is not 'authentic', but whatevs...it works fine and the three speeds actually seemed ok. I was testing it on a flat street, but we did talk to the the guy helping us about switching out chain rings, etc. to customize the options.
-I do not care for the step-through colors, but I can get past it and make it my own by adding my favorite fenders, a pink chain, the skirt guards I bought in Stockholm, a basket - yeah, I could rock it. The 'Men's' black is a beautiful mat color - wish the step through came in the same.
-I think the distance between seat and handlebars is good for me.
-This bike is lighter and it is noticeable. I believe around 27 lbs. The frame is aluminum. I like all that.
-I am disappointed it only has reflectors and not a full dynamo light set up, but that could be added on or I could just use what I have.
-A nice touch is the anti-rotation spring between the downtube and the fork to stabilize the bike when you have a basket added on and loaded down.
-The combo of front hand break and rear coaster break seems fine for around town and worked well.
-I was test riding this bike in my longer (mid-thigh length) winter coat, gloves, and no hat in 25 degree weather and I liked riding it. That says a lot right there!
In the end I was like (shrug shoulders) "It's just a bike". And you know what, that's okay.
For around $600, this bike mostly works for my needs.
It's not 'the one', but maybe for now....it is.
And in the end, shouldn't it be 'just a bike'?

And lastly, perhaps I am drawn to this bike because of the affinity I feel as a former Marin-ite.

bicycling connections...

We went to the meeting about these a while ago, and now it is happening. Awesome. Oddly, two of these four places receiving funds to go into action are our former home and our new home. Oddly as well, as Hub put it "Marin County is like a big bike boulevard as it is" - but true, Marin deserves to continue improving paradise just like the land of 10,000 lakes (I am using my nice name for Minnesota tonight)... Please, please ignore the fact that the reporter said "Mar" "in" - sigh. Sorry, not to take away from the good news...big day in these parts...yippeee!!!!!!! ps MN is pretty cool - one of only 4!! Hip Hip Hooray!

inspirationtube...

Okay, I got sucked up in the Tube tonight. This one came up thanks to Hub. You KNOW those last shots hit us where it hurts - Hyggelig!

In touch with my hyggelig...

Oh it was good to be home again! It is like getting a charge for your battery. I missed it before I even left. Until next time my friend...

Oil sucks...

This has to be one of the most upsetting sights - it makes my heart sink. The Bay has suffered a horrible oil spill from the ineptitude of a freighter pilot that hit the Bay Bridge. This is tragic. Please help the animals.

my organic soap box...

Eating naturally, healthfully, organically, humanely and sustainably has been a concern of ours and came to the forefront for us when my husband's allergies to pesticides in fruits and vegetables became violently clear many years ago. Since then we have followed the evolution of the 'organic' food business. In California, our interests were even more intensified and our dedication to food issues became even stronger - especially living in Marin County. My interest in what is happening in the food industry was heightened last summer when the New York Times published an in-depth article on what it means to be organic, cautioning that not all organics are created equal. Since then I have followed the growth of Whole Foods and the heightening debate about their future.

Thanks to Anna I am currently watching a very interesting webcast at UC Berkeley as I drink my morning coffee. This presentation with Michael Pollan and John Mackey is a great continuation of the NY Times Article I read yesterday, and the piece I saw last week on the The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour on the same issues. I suggest we all get informed, watch this interesting, upsetting (those poor animals!), and inspiring lecture by Mr. Mackey, and take time to thoughtfully think about the food we eat and those we are supporting through our purchases.

Michael Pollan's book has been on my wish list since it was published, but I now see a greater urgency to read it than ever. And after that, my next read: Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Ultimately Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution.
Local Note: If you are a student at the UofM or can afford a ticket, check out Michael locally in March at What's For Dinner? The Ethics and Aesthetics of Eating.
I will now step off the soap box, but there is so much to say on this subject I suspect I will return...

Oh yeah, and HAPPY MARCH 1st!!!!!

thanks to Maggie Burnett for the nice photo

today's view
I feel that this is a landmark day for us as we start to shed our first Minnesota winter (umm..ignore the picture...6-12 inches of snow expected today), and we can look forward to a proserous and happy Spring and Summer.

biking

Though I can appreciate a good bike race - did you see stage one of the Amgen Tour of California?! I also like good design. I love biking and I love The Netherlands, so I have found the perfect combo thanks to jorg&olif. My bike racer husband is mortified by the thought of riding one of these heavy clunkers around - but check it out, they go up to eight gears - these sporty bikes have been updated for the modern era. And for riding downtown or to work it seems like a great solution. Plus, I can pretend I am in Amsterdam - it can be like vacation every day!

Now... a break in the blog for a moment for Thor.

My husband knows I have a soft spot for good ol' Thor.
thanks to gnat23 for the photo.

That said, I should give my ode to the Amgen Tour. The gents biked through my beloved Marin County on stage 1,
we knew those curves in the road up Mt. Tam like the back of our hands.

Mt. Tam shot

Such a proud feeling to see the tour happening again, even if we can't be there to watch, we are definitely there in spirit. The coverage of the Tour of California is impressive, we are very much enjoying our Tour de France warm up.

thanks to duerkboy for the great photo.