After pussing out yesterday at the bike shop, I decided to go back today (thank you, Sarasael, for your comment--that pushed me into going back!) I was still super nervous, but I went in and a super nice guy helped me out.
He asked what kind of riding I wanted to do, and I just told him that I'm a runner and I want to cross-train a couple of times a week. No racing or huge mileage or anything, and only on the road (no trails). He introduced me to some hybrid bikes, which (from what I read online) sounded like the way to go for me. He asked if I wanted to test ride a couple bikes, which I was nervous to do, but I figured I probably should before I drop hundreds of dollars on a bike.
I loved the first one I tried. It felt so much better than any other bike I've ever ridden--very smooth. He suggested a bike with a longer length, which I tried, but I still went back to the first one. And $487 later, it's now mine :)
When I got it home, I was excited to ride it right away. I was thinking I'd do about 6-8 miles, but good LORD--my thighs were burning! I have a tempo run scheduled tomorrow, so I decided to call it quits after 3.5 miles. Hopefully I won't be TOO sore tomorrow. It was so much fun though--I felt like I was flying. Now, I know that 13 mph is on the slow side for biking, but that was my average speed (I took the Garmin, of course!) I probably should get a helmet (and maybe not wear flip flops next time, lol). I also have no clue what different gears are for. This has 21 gears, but I've no clue what to do with them. I'll have to read up on it.
The only thing that really sucks about owning a bike now is that I don't have a garage to put it in. So I'll have to keep it in the house. I also don't have a hitch for bikes on my Jeep, so I'll have to get one or I'll be sticking around my house to ride. I felt kind of guilty spending so much money, but I justified it by telling myself that it's a present to myself for maintaining 100 pounds lost for an entire year.
Shortly after that, Jerry glanced out the window and went flying outside. I heard him yell, "Phoebe!" kind of sternly (Phoebe is one of my cats) and immediately I knew she had a bird or something in her mouth.
I ran outside and sure enough, she had a DUCKLING. It was alive and unhurt, thank God, but the poor thing's mother was nowhere to be found. I live right across from the woods, as you can see in the pictures, and there is some swamp there, so I'm guessing that's where she got it. But I looked and looked, and there was no sign of a duck or more ducklings.
Jerry called the vet to see if they knew of someone that would take it in, and got the number to a guy who specializes in wildlife. He didn't answer the phone, so desperately, I told Jerry of this house that I pass on my runs who takes care of the wild ducks there.
They have a fence set up with shelter and everything, but it's open to where the ducks can come and go as they please. I told Jerry to bring the duck there, knock on the door, and ask if they know what to do with it. The guy actually took it in, and said that he cares for the abandoned ducks and other animals until he can let them go. What luck is that?! So now the sweet little duckling has a home.
Oh, I seriously had the BEST breakfast today. I just chopped up a peach and dumped a packet of Emerald Breakfast On The Go on top. Then I nuked it for 1 minute in the microwave. The peaches got hot and melty, and the granola topping stuff was so yummy.
I picked out the yogurt-covered raisins (and ate them separately) because I didn't think they'd fit in with the peaches. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but sadly, I cannot trust myself to have ice cream in the house. I've made this dozens of times with apples, but I never thought to use peaches! It was SO good. I'll definitely be making it again. I'm sure it would be good with any kind of granola or crunchy cereal. I love a nut and dried fruit combo.
Have you ever taken in a wild animal or just a stray animal? I seem to be doing it a lot lately! First Estelle, then Paolo (both cats), and today the duckling. Thank goodness we found someone else to take the duckling, otherwise I'd be nursing it here until it was big enough to go back in the wild.
He asked what kind of riding I wanted to do, and I just told him that I'm a runner and I want to cross-train a couple of times a week. No racing or huge mileage or anything, and only on the road (no trails). He introduced me to some hybrid bikes, which (from what I read online) sounded like the way to go for me. He asked if I wanted to test ride a couple bikes, which I was nervous to do, but I figured I probably should before I drop hundreds of dollars on a bike.
I loved the first one I tried. It felt so much better than any other bike I've ever ridden--very smooth. He suggested a bike with a longer length, which I tried, but I still went back to the first one. And $487 later, it's now mine :)
When I got it home, I was excited to ride it right away. I was thinking I'd do about 6-8 miles, but good LORD--my thighs were burning! I have a tempo run scheduled tomorrow, so I decided to call it quits after 3.5 miles. Hopefully I won't be TOO sore tomorrow. It was so much fun though--I felt like I was flying. Now, I know that 13 mph is on the slow side for biking, but that was my average speed (I took the Garmin, of course!) I probably should get a helmet (and maybe not wear flip flops next time, lol). I also have no clue what different gears are for. This has 21 gears, but I've no clue what to do with them. I'll have to read up on it.
The only thing that really sucks about owning a bike now is that I don't have a garage to put it in. So I'll have to keep it in the house. I also don't have a hitch for bikes on my Jeep, so I'll have to get one or I'll be sticking around my house to ride. I felt kind of guilty spending so much money, but I justified it by telling myself that it's a present to myself for maintaining 100 pounds lost for an entire year.
Shortly after that, Jerry glanced out the window and went flying outside. I heard him yell, "Phoebe!" kind of sternly (Phoebe is one of my cats) and immediately I knew she had a bird or something in her mouth.
I ran outside and sure enough, she had a DUCKLING. It was alive and unhurt, thank God, but the poor thing's mother was nowhere to be found. I live right across from the woods, as you can see in the pictures, and there is some swamp there, so I'm guessing that's where she got it. But I looked and looked, and there was no sign of a duck or more ducklings.
 |
| See how tiny it is? Poor thing! |
They have a fence set up with shelter and everything, but it's open to where the ducks can come and go as they please. I told Jerry to bring the duck there, knock on the door, and ask if they know what to do with it. The guy actually took it in, and said that he cares for the abandoned ducks and other animals until he can let them go. What luck is that?! So now the sweet little duckling has a home.
Oh, I seriously had the BEST breakfast today. I just chopped up a peach and dumped a packet of Emerald Breakfast On The Go on top. Then I nuked it for 1 minute in the microwave. The peaches got hot and melty, and the granola topping stuff was so yummy.
I picked out the yogurt-covered raisins (and ate them separately) because I didn't think they'd fit in with the peaches. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but sadly, I cannot trust myself to have ice cream in the house. I've made this dozens of times with apples, but I never thought to use peaches! It was SO good. I'll definitely be making it again. I'm sure it would be good with any kind of granola or crunchy cereal. I love a nut and dried fruit combo.
 |
| This was 222 calories. |
Have you ever taken in a wild animal or just a stray animal? I seem to be doing it a lot lately! First Estelle, then Paolo (both cats), and today the duckling. Thank goodness we found someone else to take the duckling, otherwise I'd be nursing it here until it was big enough to go back in the wild.
