Commute

When I first interviewed in the DC office, I was told that several people biked to work. I spent some time with two of them and they pointed out on a map where they lived and the trail they used. That information was one of the biggest deciding factors when I booked my apartment. I will do anything to get where I need to go by using my own energy. I just HATE driving and am only mildly less averse to taking the subway.

My last mtn bike was stolen during a robbery in November. I had a difficult time deciding what kind of bike to get. The commute is 8 miles each way so I didn't want to go with a fat mtn bike with shocks, but I have never liked being on a road bike. I REALLY wanted a cyclocross, or tricross bike, but they're not cheap. I went with the hybrid on road slicks. Ideally I could have a bike for all purposes, but this one will do for now.

Including my Incredible Hulk trike, this is my 9th bike which doesn't sound like a lot if you say compare them to shoes, but I imagine is more than I'll ever have of cars.

Anyway, below are a few pictures of what my commute home looks like. I wish I could capture the wind and sound in the last two photo's. The trail goes right along the airport and there is a giant park that in the evening everyone goes to to have picnics, play soccer, but mostly just to watch the planes take off and land. It literally almost takes your breath away the planes are so close over head.

The Ride


Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument

Some cool statue as you cross the bridge


Coming in for a landing


just passed over head

Fuel

This is how much I hate driving (and how much I love my little Chevy Prism): Almost one full month later, and I have finally co-mingled DC gas with my last fill up somewhere on the Jersey turnpike on June 23, 1:00 pm.

It's funny how little end dates and mile markers can make you homesick.

funktionlust

"the pleasurable sensation that an organism experiences when it is functioning according to its physical and sensory potential."

BTW

In case you didn't know (and chances are you don't since I didn't tell many people) I moved to DC two weeks ago. Yeah, I don't know why I keep those sort of things to myself. Last week I received an email from the bishopric of LP2 asking if we could meet. Um...well...no 'cause I moved to DC and didn't tell anyone.

I'm here instead of there and so far it's pretty cool.

4th of July

I was four years old when I was in my first parade. It was the Pioneer Day Parade in SLC. I had a purple bike with a banana seat and long purple and pink streamers from the handle bars.

I started marching band in 5th grade and played in Christmas and 4th of July parades until 8th grade. I've been in a couple of Mardi Gras (not in New Orleans) parades and got to toss out candy to the specators. Any time I've not been in a parade, I've gone to watch the parade go by. I LOVE parades!

Last Tuesday I recieved an email via a listserve asking for volunteers to carry flags or balloons for Friday's 4th of July parade. I RSVP'd immediatly! I was so excited about it that I even convinced one of my co-workers to joing up with me.

Here are a few photo's from the parade:

It's about 8:00 am. The balloons are getting pumped up and ready to go.

I'm a star! My co-worker and I are each on a point of this star. There was a lot of waiting. More waiting than marching. We were 'float' number 83 out of 150.

Watching Uncle Sam enter the parade.

A view of the White House while in the parade.

It was sooo much fun. Hot and tiring and I couldn't beleive how much my arm hurt from waving, but I would do it again. The only down side to being in the parade is that you don't get to watch the parade.