I have a bike. I got it when I was 15 (so, um, 18 years ago?) and it was  really good mountain bike at the time (and probably still is?) I rode it a lot when I was in high school, and then not much after. The last time  really rode it, my pants caught in the chain and I went head first into a ditch and that sucked, and honestly, made me really wary of the whole idea ever since. I’ve basically been a non-cyclist in my adult life.

Anyway, I saw mention of this bike called a “townie,” and started reading about it and was completely entranced. A bike for non-cyclists! A comfy seat! Not all hunched over with weird balancing!  And now, I totally want one. Dave has a bike, but rarely rides because he can never find someone to ride with, and we’ve often talked about having family bike rides, but, you know, it freaks me out. (One description of the Electra Townie, on their website!, was that it was made to help people conquer their fear. Dang.)

I’m not going to buy one right now, but it’s on my radar. My sister, it turns out, has moved to the comfort cruiser bike style, and she recommended hers — a Trek Wasabi.

The bike that made me realize these even existed is the Electra Townie, which comes in Orange, which I realize should not be a deciding factor. LLBean carries the Townie, in the most boring champagne color, but the outlet often has bikes (and has a men’s townie right now) and sales, so it could be a cheaper way to get one. Already checked craigslist and unclehenrys, and nothing is there.

Dave thinks it’s kind of geeky/old lady, but, you know what? I AM a geek! I am closer to old lady than road racer/Moab-bound cyclist, for SURE. Any biking would be around town, maybe on the carriage trails or city forest, you know? Whatev, celebrate the old lady!

Anyone have any experience with these bikes? I thought about going to work on one, but there’s this one hill that has me a little scared of that (14th street) and going to the gym would be an easy get-there, but harder getting back, I think (have to try though, but straight up Hammond, for anyone who is familiar with the area).

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Originally uploaded by gretchen04401

This is my best friend, almost two weeks ago, bobbing in the Gulf of Mexico. She just turned 33, a whole month before me. She attracts people of ALL KINDS, and never refuses a kid selling something for scouts or school. I try to remember that, when kids come a’knocking at my door.

Anyway, I spent four days at her crazy gorgeous house in crazy gorgeous Florida. It was the first time I’d left Ingrid for more than one night, and it was great — I missed her, but not in a desperate, pining way, more like the way I miss Dave when I’ve traveled — I look at everything and wish he could be there to see it.

Also, four of the last five air trips I’ve taken, I’ve spent at least one night in the airport, or put up by the airline. Traveling from Maine is such a bitch, but so worth it, even if I was sleeping on a bench at JFK with a whole lotta other people. And when I got back to Maine, it was Summer.
I should post more. I have some brewing, they just never spill out onto the blog anymore. Blah.