i RIDE my bike to work

sooo... over the last month i have ridden a bike to work more days than i have driven.
I realized that this qualifies me to say " i RIDE my bike to work..."
that is so amazing.

first of all... i was never a big bike rider.
i think we had bikes as kids, but i can't quite remember really ever being on them. I remember once our bikes got stolen in the Bennett house, but still... i have no recollection of riding my bike as a kid. I guess i was of the mindset "why ride, when you can dance where you need to go?"

anyways... about 2 years ago Bianca suggested we go for a bike ride, and i have to admit i was totally scared. I knew i could still do it, but i felt SO awkward sitting atop this big beach cruiser... and no matter what, everytime i picked up speed and heard the air rushing past my ears i would hear the witch from the wizard of oz song "dada-dada-dada-daaaaa, dada-dada-dada-daaaa"

anyways, needless to say it came back to me... feeling like i didnt need to divebomb the grass and bail out when i was going too fast... (i beleive that is how Lara learned to ride a bike.... i think my dad taught her on a bike with no brakes or something... did i make this up? perhaps. i just seem to remember in salinas Lara coming in from learning to ride a bike all bloody and bruised.... perhpas this is where my awkwardness and slight fear stems from..) anyways. i digress (for a change)

I am RIDING a bike these days and i love it. I have learned how to avoid traffic, and i even run errands now. I rode my bike to work and then all the way up to the 99 cent store to buy some 99cent suppplies for burning man.. woo hooo i leave on sunday.... and then i rode my bike all the way home past the morgan wixon theatre where i just performed thoroughly modern millie.

WELL... right in front.. giant 36x36 marquee is the artwork i did for a kids play they are putting on called "too many frogs"... i illustrated a little bunny sitting in an armchair reading to a frog and did the flyer, and marquee and little postcards..

it was really fun... i feel like a published artist... and it makes me remember how much i want to write and illustrate a chilren's book one day...
maybe when i have kids of my own!

OH right... i am talking about riding my bike to work..

SO, i love it and i feel like i am doing good for the world and it feels good physically to ride AND i am much more energized when i get where i am going then if i sit in my car in traffic gradually getting lulled to sleep by the sound (and probably fumes) of my engine.

Like, when i get home from work after riding my bike, i feel like i have the energy to go to an evening yoga class which is AWESOME! i am much more likely NOT to plop on the couch with popcorn and watch reruns of seinfeld. (our absolute most favorite thing to do always, any time anywhere... including our honeymoon!.)

OK.. i am clearly getting away from this whole bike riding thing. But let me just say i feel so proud to chain up my bike outside the office next to everyone's cars.

pat on the back for zani.