Focus on Focus

After driving a 1986 Crown Vic for about a week after the untimely demise of my Cavalier, I've settled on a solution.  A 2005 Ford Focus.

Picked up the lil lady on Thursday afternoon and I'm so excited.  Here's the rundown:

• It's a 4 door sedan so that's sweet for carting Ash around.
• Heated Seats. YES!
• 6 CD changer
• Air conditioning that works
• Power windows and locks
• Keyless entry
• The radio does this thing where it gets quiet as I slow down
• and oh yeah, the brakes work

Now we just need to get to the business at hand. Naming her.  First of all, it's a girl. All my other cars were boys, but this one is quite clear.



So here's what I'm thinking. I want a girl name from an awesome cartoon from the 90's (ish).

1. Patti Mayonnaise
2. Oblina
3. She-Ra

Suggestions? Votes? I have a current favorite.

Chug-Chug-Chuggin' Along

1.6 miles.

Admittedly, that's not the farthest distance anyone's ever biked. I know this. But in the past few weeks since getting my new purple bike and riding it all of 2 times, that's the furthest I've gone.

And it was slightly uphill on the way there to boot. And there was some kind of wind.

I'm trying to boost my ego here on this mild feat of accomplishment. Go with it.

It really is a beautiful day outside today, so biking to get our dinner seemed quite perfect. We rode to Cherry Street Deli, where I've never been. And boy, do I want to own that building and put a bakery inside it. It was adorable. Oh, and they had sandwiches and stuff (delicious cream soda).

The ride home was much more fun. Mostly downhill. Lots of childlike swerving. Singing little ditties.

John says I'm a wimp.

I say I'm awesome. And I looked pretty cute!

Oh, I still want a basket.  I can't think of the thing that goes on the front of your bike that holds the basket though.  I think it's a rack.  Do I need both?

I can picture myself riding to the farmer's market on Fulton to get veggies and flowers and putting them in the basket to come home.  I also picture being cute in this scenario.  But also on a different bike, which is unlikely.

Needless to say, this is shaping up to be a goodthing.

Cars Kill People

There are few things in this world that scare me more than the thought of dying in a horrible car crash.

Usually, I'm more concerned with the way that the people I'm in the car with drive than with my own driving capabilities.  It's not meant to be insulting when I gasp and grab the door handle as you merge onto the freeway, I'm just a little crazy.

It's one of those silly little irrational fears that people have.  Wait, no. I don't think it's irrational to be afraid of something that weighs a ton (literally) and travels at death speeds.  An irrational fear would be more like my fear of spiders (though that could be rationalized also).  Maybe all fears can be rationalized by the person with that fear... Oh well, I'm missing the point.

The point is, I'm not usually afraid of driving myself because I know how I drive and what I'm doing.  However, when the car I'm driving randomly decides to stop performing to the best of it's abilities, that's a different story.  Let's say, for instance, your brake line is all of a sudden shot.   What do you do?

Well, first, you yell "Shit!" and get off the phone. Then you calmly drive home, the entire time worrying about stopping distance and whether or not your dog should be in the front seat.   Just a tip, dogs sense fear.  Oh and another tip - IF YOUR BRAKES DON'T WORK, DON'T DRIVE ANYWHERE.  Really.

Nothing inspires a more active search for a new car like the paralyzing fear of of driving your current car.

Alone on a Bicycle for Two

Guess what I learned yesterday.

I learned that even though you remember something being one of your favorite things as a kid, it doesn't mean it's going to be the same now.

Case in point: Bike Riding.

I'll admit, I looked at bike riding as something that was always easy and fun.  I remember riding around the neighborhood - or in my own yard - having a blast! But then I didn't ride a bike for about...10 years.

There's this thing that happens to people in my family, they seem to get married and then automatically become very interested in biking (look forward to that Nick and Kat).  They seem to have so much fun doing it though, so I decided to get interested in it myself.

My mom traded me 2 big people sized Schwinn CrissCross bikes for my old huffy and even delivered them to me out in Grand Rapids.  I was so excited that I was even looking up baskets and such to put on my new friend.

And then yesterday happened. It was kind of nice out (a bit cold and windy but still nice).  So we decided to go for a ride. My first ride in 10 years.  Oh boy was it exciting!

Then I realized the bad news.  Bike riding is HARD.  No matter what fond memories you have of it.  If you haven't done it in 10 years...you'll pretty much die.  Like I did.

I made it about 10 minutes with some major pouting and one hill and then had to call it quits because my throat was killing me for whatever reason.  I was sorely disappointed in myself. I still am. But I suppose this is one of those things that takes work.

By the summer....I'll be able to ride to the ice cream joint damnit.