It's my Snowflake Design...

I've Been Busy?....

2010-03-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

Ehrrin and I are getting married this year!! Did I tell you already? She asked me out on a dinner date (where we dressed up) and fidgeted so much that I knew something was up. She asked me and I said, "Of course I will marry you". Fun!! So we have been planning the shindig, which is getting smaller (It's very costly to get married AND have people there to see it.) We are going to have it at the Edgewood Club. It is a cool, gay friendly space that has a lot of great wood and fantastic detail. There is a beautiful side patio with a lattice roof that "looks positively dreamy" (to quote Gidget). This is it in the picture of course. Ehrrin is very girly/romantic about the
planning, along with my sisters. I have a couple of opinions
but mostly am content with EK's vision of the day.
We have also thought about going to Iceland to get officially hitched. And that is the one year anniversary plan, as long as we save the dough re mi. I'll keep you posted.
No bike riding in the last month because of the weather. The roads are too wet/icy/snowy/narrow for me. Too many unknowns for a commute to work. It is hard to walk past my bike in the hallway without touching it and thinking of being on a dry road somewhere. Soon enough I hope.
It's hard to think spring when we have had so much snow. more than anyone was happy about, and some of us really dig the snow. That first evening of the big blizzard was great fun. It was just so awesome, shutting everything down, instilling a sense of calm that lasted for a couple of days, keeping some folks out of work and making it a feat of strength to get there for other folks (myself included). And there were people biking in it!! Crazy. But after two weeks plus of snow every day it just wears you down.
It did give Ehrrin and I a chance to do some serious bird watching from our couch. We have fallen hard for the Tufted Titmouse. They seem a little socially awkward (like us), and have funny hairstyles (like us). Today one scratched at the window and sang a little song. A sort of, "thanks for the seeds lady". I also really like the Dark-eyed Junco. They are the Buddhists at the bird feeder, silently walking around the ground or observing from a low branch. They are often in a group of three. I like their stoic presence.

Lofty Goals

2009-06-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

So I don't think that I am Dirty Dozen material. I am, however, bike where I can and push myself up and over some hills to get there material. That's okay by me.
Recently, I took a ride with some friends out to Hartwood Acres, this was my second time out there. Last year, before the accident, I went with Lars and it was a struggle for me to beat it through the park. The rolling hills part was real hard. I did it but I remember feeling pained and exhausted while doing it. This time it was great; no pain and I was way more able to get thru it. My breathing was better (last time I yawned and my ears were popping-uncomfortable). Today, Ellen and I rode up to Observatory Hill and it also was much easier than it had been last year. I see, and feel, that I have become a better biker. I don't need to bust out me kneecaps getting up Berry Hill just to prove a point to myself.
It feels great to enjoy myself on a ride, and better yet, to bring folks along and see them enjoy it. Some new biking buddies are Leslie, Sarah and Nat. Though I think Nat may have already outgrown me with her new bike:) Thanks ladies!
Next weekend Leslie, Rob and I are going to ride out to a road that L likes in New Kensington. It looks like 30 miles round trip and it is unchartered territory for all three of us. Especially Rob, as he is not from Pittsburgh and the ride will have a different feel. Maybe, maybe not.
On a different note, Ehrrin and I are moved in to the new place and loving it. We aren't completely unpacked yet but are working on it. We moved to Friendship, a neighborhood that I love and lived in before Ehrrin and I shacked up. The houses are sweet, converted Victorians and the streets are tree lined. It is fantastic. This is our second place together, it seems that we make a nice home together.

Also, we finally started our gym membership. It wasn't as bad as I had feared it would be and the equipment, though not self explanatory, seems exciting. Knock on wood, we will hit that 5K with no trouble in the fall.
Mind how you go.

Oh, you know...

2009-04-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

I ate the heads off of a few rabbits this weekend. I think that they are still alive in my stomach. There is a certain unsettled feeling, as if they are hollering and carrying on about their plight.
Ehrrin gave me a righteous Easter basket on Sunday morning (we woke up before 7, like the kids we are). Not only was there a great amount of chocolate and other delights, and low and behold, a bike t-shirt was hiding at the bottom! This particular shirt is from Threadless Tees, and I already had 2 of them (along with 3 other t-shirts with pictures of bikes) and the same Ehrrin Keenan also had given me a poster with the Threadless design for my last birthday. I am swimming in the bike motif loot. I like it!
Last Saturday my friend Kelly came in from Ohio to visit family and friends. We went for a 22 mile ride which entailed; riding through town to the Jail Trail to get to S. 18th St. on the South Side. Up at the top their are great city and valley views. Not easily seen through chain link fence.
Coming back down from the top we landed on 28th St and took the trail back over to Oakland, where Kelly led us up Panther Hollow to Craig St. and back behind the library to Schenley park and then along Beechwood Blvd (I love to ride on this road. The views at the toppish are really lovely and make you want to fill your lungs with the sweet Squirrel Hill air. And it isn't a rough ride at all, the road is pretty accommodating save for sticks and stones to your right.) We then rode to Point Breeze and had a coffee at Make Your Mark, a small good looking shoppe. And then home to Lawrenceville. I love to go for a ride. The hills aren't my main goal but getting up and over takes you to better, cleaner, quieter places. Where you will have two lanes to yourself and can say hello to people in their gardens. It's a good feeling, and even when it isn't, it will be soon.
I am still unsure about the Dirty Dozen. I have yet to hit any of those hills and it needs to happen in the next month for me to know if i can pull it off. it seems that i am not really committed to it yet. Help a girl out....

The China Bear

2009-04-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

She drank from her paws
She could levitate ( a little on her front feet)
She looked exactly like a monkey sometimes
She enjoyed the theme song to The Andy Griffith show
She could ask the question, "Why?"

I Swear This Time I Will Do It

2009-04-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

I am going to try, more than I ever have in the past, (I think) to save a little money AND pay off my debts in a quicker beat. I have been paying down some cards and can see some progress here and there, but cumulatively, it is still a mountain to me. That I could owe as much as I make in half a year is a frightening thought. Typically, so frightening that I give up on it as the year drags on, and I want something that I can't afford.
When a credit card company calls me to say I could pay their card off faster if I sent in half the owed amount it makes me want to hand them their heads. And the level of upsetment about it is comical, considering it really is my own irresponsibility that put me here. So it is actually out of embarrassment that I might get red faced and angry when I get the bi-annual call from ASPIRE, or HSBC. But I can't let them know that. I am determined though, really and honestly, to halve this debt by the end of the year. At least halve, but I will aim for as much as I can do and still pay rent and eat tofu.
The new bike will pay for itself in another two months, and then it will pay Lars back on my behalf. It is that kind of bike.

A First for Me (this weekend)

2009-03-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

March 20th 2009

Hi. So Ehrrin and I have been talking about joining a gym this year, but have been hesitant to do so until we know where what neighborhood we will be moving to. We are going to check out one on Highland Ave, across from Smiley's Pet Pad (a fine place) on Saturday. I have never donned "exercise" clothes outside of my home, and have actually only owned "exercise clothes" for a few months. That is not counting my bike gear, which I got after riding for 50 miles without a chamois, and a bike shirt, which I got to feel more legit and it has a pocket in the back, so... I am excited to run on a treadmill, use an elliptical and hang off of something. But I am scared to do that in the company of people that I don't know.
Why the vulnerability all of the time? Why do we all want to keep the tinted windows to our souls and physiques up, but make it so that we can check everyone one else out? Is this a lack of proper socialization on my part? A deep seated fear of those I do not know? Is my worst fear that I will be running on the treadmill and a stranger will stand at the foot of it and analyze my stats? And would that be so awful? I know that I can count on Ehrrin to make it fun for me. Whether intentional or not, my girl knows how to bring the good times to a higher level. So we will go to "the gym" in our "exercise clothes" and sweat and laugh and not care who sees what. Right?

Vi's Baby Dojo-Grand Opening!!!

2009-03-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

MARCH 14TH 2009

When my sister, Sissy, became pregnant with her second child I felt that I was getting cheated out of 'getting to know you' time with her. Her son, Brendon, was old enough that he was an independent character and it seemed like it was time for my sister to continue on with HER life. Not that I don't enjoy children, I do. They are often hilarious and creative. Those are qualities that I can wrap my brain around. But I had recently moved back to Pittsburgh and was excited by the thought of hanging out with Sissy.
It so happened that my sister, Debbie, was pregnant at the same time. Their children are several weeks apart. When I locate the special picture of Deb's son, Alex, I will post it. It's pretty spectacular.
So Sissy and her husband, Robert, were excited and it was exciting but hard to reconcile the no hang out time thing for me. BUT, when, on February 12th I received a call at work from Sissy everything changed. She was at the midwife center, just a block away. She said, "Barbie I just had the baby in the car on the way to the midwife center. We are over here now." I thought that she was joking (we like to joke). But she wasn't. So I ran over and saw my tiny new nice, Elizabeth Violet. Pretty damn cute. When Brendon got there he wanted to hold her but did not want to see "the gross stuff". Sissy wrapped her up tight and handed her over. Tiny Vi (my nickname for her) threw open her blanket to reveal her foul umbilical cord. We knew then that she would also have a sense of humor.
I spent all the time that I could at my sister's house in the following months. It was really amazing to see how rapidly babies change. From physical appearances to mental capacity, it was fascinating. But the best of it was when Vi started to recognize me and say my name and could relax and even fall asleep in my arms. I felt like I must have acquired magical powers somehow.
It made me see more clearly what it is to have a baby in your life. While it is still true that your time is not your own, it is also true that you get to experience a kind of sped up evolution. A real treat. I am so glad that I live near my sister and her family and can be a part of it all. It would be great if all of my siblings and I lived closer to each other. That would also be a real treat.
The End.

I Might Make A Promise To Myself

2009-03-13T19:54:00.000-07:00

March 13th 2009

So a friend asked me if I was going to do the "Dirty Dozen" this year, and my quick reply was, "no way, I am not that kind of biker". But now I'm thinking of it, and how it would be kind of like my marathon. This spring I am going to see if Lars will help me do some REAL hill work. It involves 13 of the steepest hills in Pittsburgh. Serious grades. If Lars thinks that I have the junk for it then i will give it a whirl.
I think that I will have to commit to riding more often and only coming home from work on the steepest hills. Ehrrin thinks that I like to do hills, but it's just a means to an end. the best rides are outside of Pittsburgh and to access them you've got to climb the hell out. So...
And on another note, I am a little bit addicted to Scrabble on Facebook and in real life. There is not enough time in the day for the Scrabble volume I want to reach. So please accept my Scrabble invitation folks. please.
This week the pain in my right jaw is still present. I think that this makes week #4. I know that it is from clenching my teeth at work and at night, but it is so hard to train myself not to. I'm trying but I am not where I want to be with it. Knock on wood for me.

Barter Folks!!!!

2009-03-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

March 11th 2009

Today I visited one of my clients at his work place to offer my expertise in dog behavior. Initially I had declined his request for help with his dog, Maggie. Only because I worry that when people ask for my help with their dogs that they don't really want to do any work themselves, but rather, have me magically "fix" their pups. And that doesn't interest me. But I knew that Jeffrey was on the up and up; and really wanted for Maggie to be comfortable at work with him.
As a sort of side note, Jeffrey has a hair salon called Jeffrey Smith Studio in Lawrenceville. He recently gave me my first professional haircut in 25 years. It was a great cut and style but I shamed him by not doing the upkeep. Sorry, I am just not good at that stuff. So, I went down to his studio and watched Maggie's behavior while he and I brainstormed about possible plans for her training. I guess he has watched me doing my hair, his cut, no favors letting it become drab and sad atop my head, and offered to give me a new cut right then and there. It turned out great. (but so did the first one) It feels more like me and I hope I don't shame him with an ill kept head 'o' hair. Knock on wood for me.

Hey, it got nice out!

2009-03-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

March 7th 2009

It is really lovely to walk the dogs when the temps aren't so brutal and the air smells clean. It has just felt so stale out there lately. At the end of the work day on Friday folks were swarming us to pick up their dogs and get the hell home. I imagined everyone switching into their capri's and thinking about which t-shirt to put on. You have to pick a good one to exact the feeling of Spring. I went for a little bike ride on Thursday. Nothing fancy, errands and a visit to my lady, Ehrrin, at work. I love my new bike (thanks Lars) and love riding it. What a difference it makes to go from a mostly aluminum frame to all aluminum. Not to mention the thinner tires and disc brakes. The whole ride is painless. Lately, I have been riding home from work via Butler St. to make the 4 minute ride a little more substantial, and on the Soho, the hills melt away. The test will come in the form of continuous ups and downs on a long ride. The trip out to Hartwood acres last summer was great, but it kicked my butt. From the time that I moved to Milwaukee in 1992 until now I have always had a bike. In Milwaukee a friend gave me her old steel Huffy and it was really easy to get around. Pretty flat, wide roads and the drivers are more aware of you, what with the bike riding college kids around. But in Brooklyn, it was a little more challenging with the volume of traffic and pedestrians to manuever. I just didn't really ride, but for a few times around Prospect Park and some tiny errands. I did change the seat to a black, velvet, banana seat for kicks though. When I moved back to Pittsburgh in 2003 (my dad died and I decided to hang out with the family for a spell) I brought the clunker but let it sit in my sister's cellar until 2004. I rode it a bit on and off and then suddenly in the spring of 2007 hit the road and that was it. I got a Trek hybrid and had a great time until August 27th of 2008 when I had an accident on my way to work. A car made a quick left in front of me as I was on my way down a slope. It sucked. My bike was ruined (forks bent backwards, front brakes busted, rim bent) and I was laid up with a broken hand and bruised knees. No to mention a general sour mood regarding both my condition and the drivers lack of scruples. Now we are in March and I still have some pain in my right knee and have heightened senses in my injured parts when the weather changes. There is also the disheartening fear of cars pulling out in front of the car that I happen to be riding in. Only, though, if I am the front seat passenger and never when I am driving, in the backseat or when I am on my bike. Go figure. So now I have a new bike, a Trek Soho 1.0, that I love (thanks Lars) and the want to get out there. The sun just came out so I think I will.

Today is the first day of the rest of this 'blog'...

2009-03-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

If I told you that this would never happen in a million years, would you believe me? The relationship between technology and myself has always been polite but strained. Was it Tech's doing or my own, I can't say, I won't say. But here we are giving it a whirl, so...
So let me jump right to it and say that I am so relieved that we are getting the hell out of winter finally. Was it longer than usual this year? It was, let's all agree. When I was walking to work yesterday morning at 5:50am THE birds were out singing, or whatever they're up to. It made me happy to be part of their morning ritual and I felt like the a.m. would be okay. Not that I have a hard time in the morning, mind you, it's sometimes just a little hard to stay awake when you get up at 5:30am. For me anyway.
This post won't always be so mundane. I am just testing the waters, seeing if Tech is going to knock me down in some way. And I am sure there will be a lot to say after a great bike ride tomorrow. I am going to bring my camera along and catch some pics of what I like to call 'ghost houses'. This would be where a building has been torn down but the physical outline of it remains on the existing neighboring building. You know what I'm talking about?
P.S.
I don't know what's going on with the text color.
bam

March 4th, 2009 Wednesday

2009-03-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

So I am going to try this out. This 'blogging' thing. Not, as in, "This blogging thing @###!"
We'll see how it goes. Maybe it will be a new venue for technology and I to get to know each other.
Or it will be the thing that makes me set the computer down and pick up the looseleaf paper and erasermate pen and never look back. Either way...
bam