New Year Observations

It is the ninth of January and because I am working at a new post, I'm at home on a Friday. We work 4 days a week and most of the persons put in a 10-hour day. I am a part-time employee and average about 7.5 hours. That is OK because I still have YOGA on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The total bike travel has gone down somewhat with my daily commute maybe 6 miles most on which are on bikeways. Not too bad though last month I had to ride in single-digit temps and icy streets and paths. In fact, I took a spill one morning just before crossing a bridge and had to regain my composure before entering the warm work bay. One morning, though it was pretty clear, my hands were about to fall off! As the shop came into view, I saw the door was open and I shouted for them to keep it open as I was hurrying along. It felt so good to get into that warm place. Now it is quite warm and only the rain and wind prevent me from enjoying my travels. A few days ago it reached 60 degrees and felt like the false spring that oregon is so well known for. We have had one snow event, maybe 5-6 inches accumulate and stayed around for a few days. There is plenty of snow in the Cascades and all the ski centers are happy. After a pause of 2 weeks, we resumed our YOGA practice at the "Y". The first class is always a challenge and our teacher was only too glad to go easy on us. Thanks AR DAS! Tonight norma and I go downtown to a benefit for an acquaintance who has been struck by cancer. Norma is well and going to the GYM almost every morning. She walks and rides her bike to work. During the cold snap we had a strange set of events. After driving her car to work, the key snapped off in the ignition and she called me to come down in the old van to rescue her. Well, I did and on the way back, the right rear tire went flat. So in the space of 1/2 hour we were left carless. It took a few days for locksmiths and tire repair shops to set all to right.