bike history

my first bike was a bike that my mother rode when she was a kid. it was given to me at christmas one year. my grandfather (her father) painted it purple for me, and fixed it up. i loved it for about a year, and then it was more of an embarrassment. it was so old and creaky and wasn't fast & flashy like everyone else's bikes. the bike was cool - but i was caught up in the bmx thing.

then i was given a bmx bike. it was fun for trails and kid things.

my next bike was a black huffy 10-speed with pink graphics. i loved this bike, and it lasted me through high school. with this bike i gained a bit of freedom from the house. my parents let me bike all around town & to friends houses, etc. it was GREAT.

the first bike i purchased was a shitty raleigh mtn bike. it was 1994, and i was obsessed with BIKE magazine and needed a mtn. bike. surprisingly we and had limited options in my small town in alaska. anywya, i didn't really every love that bike - it weighed a ton, and it was all the wrong colors. i left it at home for my brothers when i went to college. amen.

the second bike i purchased was my gary fisher kai tai. medium matte gray finish. i loved everything about my bike. it went everywhere with me. i was telling friends last night about the states that bike had been in, and i was just sitting here, thinking about it again, and realized that i left a few states out. here, i would like to document the life & times of my 1996 kai tai.
colorado - purchased & ridden.
idaho - college bike - ridden on many trails near idaho falls
alaska - shipping my bike home - ridden to work & various grueling trails*.
new york - shipped bike to ny. lived with me there for 10 years. college bike, commuter bike, etc.
massachusetts - nantucket - marthas vineyard. i actually purchased a basket for the bike in nantucket. it was great.
michighan - taken on a various trip to michigan. biked some roads with rich & miles.
connecticut - biked through lower connecticut - near my college
california - shipped it out here to be with me. the shop owners laughed when i took it in to get re-assembled. at this point the bike was 10 years old. they thought i was foolish for spending money on shipping.

last night i was about to give this bike away. i almost started crying. luckily the tire was busted, something i hadn't noticed until the new potential owner pointed it out, and in turn, refused the bike. so, all is well with the world, and i still have my kai tai. whew.

current bike: stella - my 2nd road bike, 1st road bike purchase.
1982 Trek - made in waterloo wisconsin - steel gray/silver
california - purchased 2008
oregon - biked around oregon.
this is the bike i'd hope to ride across country some day. its rad, and i've already put a zillion bay area miles on this beauty.

*please note - trails in alaska are absolutely grueling. untouchable. they simply haven't been maintained by the cute crews that other states have. its too wild of a wilderness to tame.

atoms for peace - thom yorke

this past weekend is this song. i started playing it friday, and just listened to it 3 more times on the way to work this morning, so i'm dubbing it the song of the weekend. in my opinion, this song is so spring to me - like, in a "spring cleaning" way - clean out your closets - and get out there and start something new. easy as pie.



No more going to the dark side
With your flying saucer eyes
No more falling down a wormhole
That I have to pull you out

The wriggling, twiggling worm inside
Devours from the inside out
No more talk about the old days
It's time for something great

Want you to get out
And make it work

So many allies, so many allies
So many allies, so many allies
So feel the love come off of them
And take me in your arms

Peel all of your layers off
I want to eat your artichoke heart
No more leaky holes in your brain
And no false starts

I wanna get out
And make it work

So many allies, so many allies
So many allies, so many allies
So feel the love come off of them
And take me in your arms

I wanna get out
And make it work

Want you to get out
And make it work

I'll be ok

you can see by deerhoof

Your legs don't work and you're caught in the light.
You can see through the walls so nothing is right.
There's a man in the cellar next door
And he's scratching the floor fifty miles away.
You didn't know him till today.

You're walking home and your heart has been drained.
But you're eyes have been newly trained.
And the roof is invisible now,
It's incredible how you were ever blind.
Now you will always find

Rooms are connected,
Eyes are perfected,
Hey now now hey now now you can see.

Something you shouldn't be ,
Something suddenly free,
What will happen now?
If the eyes are too strong,
The horizon's too long.
I can see I can see,
But mama says it's wrong.

In the night I'll lose it.
It's not right but I'll use it.
I can see I can see.

As my lungs fill with air,
The whole world is laid bare,
What will happen to me?
The warning says you can see
You will forever riddle.

exclaim

sometimes, when i am out in nature, i mean the real thick of it, i like exclaim things.

ITS SUNDAY! THANK YOU FOR SUNDAY!

walk walk walk

climb to the top of a rock

puff out my chest

I AM HERE! BREATH IN. BREATH OUT!! THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY!

veeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy cheesy i know.

at any rate, i got to do this today, and i reminded me how much i enjoy doing this. it really helps you hone right in on the heart of things, clear your head, and get back to work.

somethings in the water these days



getting coffee this morning at united, i met eyes with GORGEOUS older man. it was EXHILIRATING.
when he was standing next to me i froze. and then had to tell myself to CHILL.
after getting my coffee, he wished me a great day and i wished him one back and he was all THANKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.................

it was the hottest way to start my day. holy shit its been a great week so far.

so i have no apprehension in saying that spring is here people. LOVE IS IN THE AIR! ENJOY.

morning after

i am hot mess today. it happens. last night was a really fun photoshoot in the city and so a lot of fun ensued. and then a whole bunch of fun things later, and 1 morning after, i was sitting in my car praising mr. white YET AGAIN, for saying it best in "i'm bound to pack it up" :



i've thought about it for a while
and i've thought about the many miles
but i think it's time that i'm going away

the feelings that you've had for me
have gone away, it's plain to see
and it looks to me that your pulling away

i'm gonna pick it up
i'm gonna pick it up today
i'm bound to pack it up
i'm bound to pack it up and go away

i find it hard to say to you
that this is what i have to do
but there is no way that i'm gonna stay

there's so many things you need to know
and i want to tell you before i go
but its hard to think of just what to say

i'm gonna pick it up
i'm gonna pick it up today
i'm bound to pack it up
i'm bound to pack it up and go away

i'm sorry to leave you all alone
you're sitting silent by the phone
but we've always known there would come a day

the bus is warm and softly lit
and a hundred people ride on it
i guess i'm just another running away

i'm gonna pick it up
i'm gonna pick it up today
i'm bound to pack it up
i'm bound to pack it up and go away

oh yeah-ah-yeah