I SPY A STRAWBERRY!

So excited.

I guess these things really do work!

BIKING TO WORK: PROS & CONS

With rising gas prices, the most beautiful weather I've felt in a long time, and pretty spring flowers in full bloom, I've decided to finally try biking to work. It's something I've thought about for a long time, but never had the guts to actually do it. I got my bike tuned up last night and decided while my confidence was high I needed to jump in with two feet and just do it before I chickened out for another few months! I'm only about 11 miles from my office and there's a new fancy paved and non-motorized path that I can take for about 5 of those miles so it really wasn't too bad (aside from the first hilly 6 miles...but I'm trying to erase those from my memory so I'll ride it again).


During my ride into the office I started to go through some positives and negatives of commuting to work via rode-bike...

Con: Pennsylvania is NOT the most biker-friendly or biker-populated area. It's definitely no Austin where I'm fairly positive there are more bikers than drivers.

Pro: Arrive to work stress-free and 350 calories down to start the day (and then another 350 before dinner from the ride home).

Con: Prepare breakfast; you will be hungrier than normal at 8am!

Pro: Save roughly $6 a day in gas...$30 a week and $120 a month

Con: Felt a bit trapped in the office; lunch-time errands are not possible and lunch break is confined to a quarter-mile walking radius.

Pro: Get home from work not only done with your work day, but also done with your workout! No extra time spent working out.

Con: Wiping down with a wet wipe, getting dressed and trying to dry the sweat out of your hair in an office public bathroom - not the easiest task.

Pro: Feeling of accomplishment boosts work productivity.

Con: Deer bolting across the street are not just a hazard for moving vehicles; also moving bicyclists (true story.) 

Pro: Passing-up stand-still traffic is the best feeling.

Con: Getting a flat tire and having to walk you bike a half-mile to the nearest gas station while all those stand-still cars are now passing YOU...not so much the best feeling.

All-in-all I think biking to work is definitely a great alternative to driving. It's not possible for me to do every day of the week, but I'd love to try it at least a few days a week, weather permitting. I'm a bit nervous to try it again after my first flat tire on my first ride home, but thanks to a pretty handy and bike-savvy boyfriend, I now know how to change the tire myself and have all the tools to do so and am feeling pretty prepared.

A few more practice trips and I'll have my route down and hopefully learn some shortcuts.

All you bikers out there...any tips for me??

MY LITTLE GARDEN

Although only half of it looks planted, I assure you it's all filled with little veggie sprouts. Now fingers crossed that they survive the still 49 degree nights! When is it going to be warm and stay warm?!

FILL IN ZE BLANKS

Because I started it and never got to finish...

1.   What I love most about my home is       pretty much everything; the front porch, backyard, location, how the kitchen opens to the family room, the windows and bright light that comes in and the pets that live inside. It truly feels like a home and it's just perfect for me.    .

2.  I'm excited because,    I'm having a Cinco De Mayo party tomorrow!!!!

3.  My preferred method for blowing  off steam when I'm frustrated is     to cry it out and vent to someone that I know will love me even after I yell at them for something that's not their fault at all (usually The Mom)   .

4.  Currently I am craving   Classic Diner; I have a lunch date with the boy there today and it just can't come fast enough  .

5.  The thing I love most about my mom is     her selflessness. And her extreme love for M&Ms  .

6.  If I was going to write a book about my life, the title would be       "A Perfectionist and OCD Sandwich." Perfectionism from The Dad + OCD Cleanliness from The Mom = Me; sometimes it's probably pretty entertaining   .

7.  If I were to eat one thing for the rest of eternity it would be       pizza. Bet you didn't guess that one! Calcium, protein, carbs, fats, fruits (tomato sauce) and veggies all in one; perfecto. 

TOPSYTURVY THURSDAY

I caved. And bought two TopsyTurvys. Not just one, no I couldn't stop there, I went out for the tomato TT and happened across a strawberry one too; didn't even know they made them, so naturally I had to rescue that one too.  They just look so promising! They were fairly easy to plant and hang, now I just have to keep on top of watering them EVERY DAY. I tend to have problems with that (I may or may not have killed a cactus the dad bought me) so we'll see ; fingers crossed for lots of fruits!