Last night Corina shared a link with us that blew my mind (in a figurative sense, obvs, and led me off on a VERY long trail of more sites and more links and more information). And I had planned on talking about it. I will, but not yet. Instead I need to tell everyone about how my day went. Because it was NOT what I thought it was going to be like. At. All.
For one thing, it’s raining. Not that this matters much to the story, but in a way it’s a minor player. Here’s the deal, I have increased the bike rides due to my not-losing-weight situation (most days doubling up with other activities). They are quicker and take less preparation than trudges do. Every day since we’ve been back (with maybe one or two exceptions) I’ve gone on my 5 mile Route. On every one of those days I’ve been asking my want-y self elf “why don’t I have toe baskets?”
Like these. Because I was thinking they’d help keep my feet on the pedals. Turns out, they don’t actually do* what I wanted them to. But, also turns out, that wasn’t the point. There are LOTS of businesses here locally to choose from if one requires bicycle assistance, parts, info, or just something to ride. There are two close to The Burrow. I got the items in one place (thank you, very nice young woman who searched in the back room for me and found what I needed) but ended up having them attached in another.
*They DO help somewhat, but not the way I thought they would. I’ve found that pushing with my toes gives me another “level” or gear when I get tired and need that extra boost to sprint justonemoretime.
Installed,
and super spiffy.
My plan had been to run a few errands (Wee Walnut being my mode of transportation) and then come home to pedal off some flab (that’s me, eternally hopeful). But sadly my Specialness prevented the delightful young man at the counter from knowing what was required. He suggested I just bring everything in. Good call, Alex. (Seriously, I found out later that his name is Alex.)
I went home. Changed clothes. And rode back. In the rain. Like I fucking cared. I was so damn tired of WANTING this accessory, that I just didn’t give a shit any more. Weather? Who even notices? Ride extra miles? Sure, apparently I do that now.
Paul’s Bicycle Way Of Life is not a company I’d ever done business with. Because ya know, I didn’t Bicycle! Now I do. And they are WAY handy. Not only that but the folks who were working in the shop today (Tom, and the aforementioned Alex) were AWESOME! In particular though, was Anna. My new BFF. She was friendly, competent, efficient, kind, capable, patient, talented, adorable (!!!), and (wait for it……..) she lives in my neighborhood. She’s seen me ride by! Recognized my ratty-assesd hand-me-down two-wheeler! And, in TRULY Eugene Uniqueness, she is a friend-of-a-friend.
There are not enough compliments I can toss at these people (ANNA!!!). So I’ll just show you one more picture, and leave it at that.
Mobile Mermaiding.
Anna put this on for me. I am now well hydrated, and able to go even farther than I could before. Also, I used that hilariously horrible bag-made-from-a-hooded-sweatshirt to conveniently (even if not so stylishly) carry my belongings today. Moral of my tale? When you hope for a beautiful and interesting day, be prepared to have one. And enjoy every freaking moment of it. Even if it ends up being totally different than you had imagined or even presumed to plan.
Let’s get to our daily draw and Daily Dog, I’m very hungry and need to be done here so I can have my salad.
“Tumbled Stones ~
rainbow healing ~
Today marks the start of a new beginning; a new way of looking at life and the world around you. Be it in dreams or through beautiful rainbows, you are being infused with light and blessings. Relax! Surrender your concerns to the universal light of love and allow this wondrous healing to occur.
You will soon find that others are attracted to you. Many will come and seek your help and advice for you are a beacon of light unto all. In the near future you will empower others with your love and wisdom as you help them see their inner light and beauty. You are a natural born healer who heals through the power of love.”
Wow, that was cool! I hadn’t looked at the guidebook before I sat down here, so it was sort of a surprise. The Rainbow Healing is especially nice. And isn’t it just a great validation of what we were talking about before? New starts and advancements of all types. Our next “cycle” is absolutely going to be a good one.
Come in, Nana!
While I was gone, this guy “helped” cut down some of that tall grass. (Or maybe he just stayed safely on the deck, and sometimes in the living room on the couch.)
Today’s Deck:
Crystal Oracle by Toni Carmine Salerno
Tomorrow we’ll discuss that body type breakthrough. Because, truly, dated or not, finding out about this has made a huge difference in how I’m viewing my entire project and weight-loss prospects.
Dude, I just typed a whole long-ass comment (as usual), then wanted to look at the Max picture up close, and (duh) lost it all! (I’m from California, “dude” is gender-neutral here, ok?) Dammit!!!
Well, starting over, best I can… So glad the link didn’t literally blow your mind!
And glad you’re finding this info useful & helpful! It was truly Divinely Guided. <3
Yay for making new friends, and getting new bike accessories, especially a hydration carrier!
The card reminds me of a redwood bowl full of tumbled stones at my grandparents' house… and makes me want to go play with its contents! Yeah, I have many, many, many (ok, really, too many… I am going to have to release some of them back into the "wild") sea-tumbled stones in my house, but, dammit, the ones up there are all exotic & different! LOL! Love the message! "Many will come and seek your help and advice for you are a beacon of light unto all. In the near future you will empower others with your love and wisdom as you help them see their inner light and beauty." Well, Dear Julie, isn't that exactly what you've been doing, here, for us? Yes, it is… Thank You!!! <3
Max behind bars! (And I'm not going to go look closely at it again, not before submitting!)
~
Oh dude, been there, fucked that up.
(I was born in Castro Valley, you may recall ….)
J
9:32 p.m.
6-4-12
LOL! Oh, yeah, I totally forgot, you know all about Dude! Like, OMG, duh!
Paul’s is great, as is “Arriving by Bike” on Willamette. Nice new gadgets for your steed. I love the tumbled rocks card, too.
~
Of course now I want MORE fun accessories though.
J
9:36 p.m.
6-4-12
How cool you got new bike stuff and can easily carry your mermaid water bottle! Yay! And have discovered a whole shop of new friends.
I love tumbled stones, you might remember, and have bags and jars of them. I need to get them out so I can play with them and look at them in the light and all of that. I know exactly the bowls I’d like to put them in, I just don’t know if they exist, especially in a form I can afford!
I’ll try to be someone who gives advice when asked and who is helpful and all that.
~
I am really enjoying learning about these crystals and stones! Not stuff I was aware of before.
J
9:40 p.m.
6-4-12
New beginnings. Very pertinant to the day. I got on the scale and after 6 months of going to the gym discovered I’d gained 10 pounds. Yep GAINED. Why do I fight it? I know what I need to do to lose weight, but I want to be able to diet like ‘normal’ people. My six month experiment has proven that I am not normal – sniff. But we all knew that.
I stepped off the scale and said – enough. I will do what I know works, even if it is… less than enjoyable.
~
Normal? Oh Honey, we are SO not even close to that fictional word.
(Good “new” start and re-focus! Remember, it’s not forever.)
J
9:43 p.m.
6-4-12
This just reminded me of the best book title, EVER: Normal is Just a Setting on the Dryer. So very true. Great, fun book, by Adair Lara.
I love stones because they have energy. There are six different ones at the base of my computer, one from my Gran’s farm in Australia, one from Grant castle in Scotland, several others from places I’ve been in the U.S. My favorite is from a Japanese museum in L.A. It’s large smooth and fills my palm. Engraved on one side is imagine, written in Japanese. : )
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You have bits of the entire world right there on your desk! This is totally cool, and SO damn connected to Mother Earth.
J
9:46 p.m.
6-4-12
Okay, I read the card so I guess you don’t have to answer my email!
When I was in Salem, I had a reading. The woman, quite lovely was she, had me say my name out loud a few times and then she held my hands for a moment before proclaiming me a healer. Well, I am surrounded by special people, so that seems to be true.
I started a post because I haven’t written one since the foot injury, but it was very mopey so I stopped. I’m going to try and change my mindset now by remembering “love and healing, love and healing…”
~
Oooo I love that she recognized you as a healer. You ARE! And an advocate like none other.
Re-framing is the key; look to the blessings and not the challenges.
(Until we learn them, THEN they become blessings too.)
J
9:56 p.m.
6-4-12
Good bike people that will help you with your ‘old’ bike instead of pressuring you into buying new are worth their weight in gold.
Curiosity question – Why did you put the bottle holder up on top instead of the usual on the slant bar below?
Stones, rocks, crystals… Love them! “Today marks the start of a new beginning; a new way of looking at life and the world around you.” Fingers crossed!
Please tell me Max is too smart to shove his head through the fence….I worry.
~
So far we’ve not run across anyone here locally who even MENTIONS buying a new bike. (Maybe they can tell we’re broke by just looking at us and our pathetic rides?)
I didn’t put it there, Anna did. And she said that it’s because I don’t have brackets right now. It can be moved when/if I purchase those, and/or add on other things.
Lol, Max doesn’t stick his head through the fence ever, and he only presses his face that close when I’m standing there trying to take his picture. It was all his Nana, not him, no more worries.
J
10:01 p.m.
6-4-12
I was just over at the Bloggess and was reading the comments and thought “I’ll bet that’s my Julie!” and it was! Hearing chorus of It’s a Small World.
Love, love, love helpful kind salespeople.
~
Yep, it was. Could I let the “worst hotel ever” experience slip past? When we’d had one too? No, I absolutely could not. So fun that you recognized me!
J
10:07 p.m.
6-4-12
Great web site and yes, it does lead to a whole bunch of sites. I’m going on the 90% green, veg, beans and 10% everything else. Well, at least try harder to do that. That’s a new beginning. Right?
Hmm, the bike pedal accessories, not a fan here, took mine off. Cute photo of Max.
Lots of OR plates, NJ, VA, FL, and a few CA.
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Yes, that is totally a new beginning.
New Dawn New Day!
My toe baskets were GREAT today with the imitation Crocs, but I did notice how they might be slightly problematic if one’s feet got STUCK in them.
J
10:13 p.m.
6-4-12
Small world, indeed.
(Psst. Don’t worry, Max. I’ll bake a file into your next dog treats.)
~
Eugene has a tendency to be like this. Once you have a connection to this strange little town, you are sucked right in to our world of odd-ness. It’s like the degrees of Kevin Bacon thing, only it happens faster and with less degrees needed.
(He’s right here, very appreciative, looking forward to the break-out. Plotting, as we speak.)
J
10:17 p.m.
6-4-12
I love how you call a city of over 150,000 a “little town.”
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I thought we were still under 140, but maybe not. (I would never question your facts and statistics.)
It FEELS like a dopey little town.
J
10:21 p.m.
6-5-12