Car Trader-Boise!!

Well the day has finally come when I'm willing to step up to the plate. I want to trade my Black Beauty for one of New Belgium's custom rides. This has been a long time coming.

I've been a bike commuter for the better part of 20 years in Boise. I've chosen to live and work in such a way that I can either walk or ride. BUT...I have this car you see. It's a 1992 black VW Jetta. It's cool. It has a sunroof, a good stereo, and lots of bitchen stickers. It gets good gas mileage and I only put one tank of gas in from May 12th to July 7. But the lack of gas I've had to put in doesn't make up for the cash I have lavished upon it. A new alternator, new clutch, new radiator, new windshield...etc. This car has less than 120,000 miles on it. Clearly this car wants me to know something.

That something is the fact that nothing will ever compare to my 1983 Honda Civic Wagon unless it's a bike. When I had the Civ, affectionately named "Little Blue," my life was centered around my bike. That car took my bike to Moab, Telluride, Eugene, Yellowstone and a multitude of bike racing stops with the Wild Rockies Mountain Bike Racing series. It got more than 40 mpg. BUT...it wouldn't pass the stringent emissions testing that Boise does to help our air quality. So I sold it...for $400 and I cried. I got a picture of that car about a year ago. My heart still aches...and Black Beauty knows it. That's why my feet were bathed in antifreeze yesterday when I pulled into work.

In Boise we have a very strong cycling community that has recently been rocked by 3 deaths. It takes guts of steel to ride on the roads these days as there is a lot of animosity between the cycling community and motorists. I've been on a couple of the memorial rides and spoken passionately about the need to educate everyone, cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians. I rode my bike almost every day during May and most of June as well. I told people to get out of their cars and on a bike...

Then came July...and I didn't ride one single day to work. My trusty steed (a 1992 Raleigh Tangent) baked in the garage, waiting for me to mount back up and ride to Tully's for a skinny iced mocha that fits perfectly in the rack in my borrowed coffee cup. Sure the Raleigh has the late 80's scatter paint job, but I've upgraded the gearing and have a bent up rack on the back. I look at the commuter bikes with their intricate gearing and built in fenders and wish I was able to commit.

Nothing makes me feel better than when I am on my bike. I see the same people every morning and we greet each other, scope each other's safety efforts and peddle on. I have a commute people would die to have.

All I need now is one push to be a full time commuter. If that car wasn't out there, I'd never get in it. I look to you to help me make the needed change. It would be my pleasure to be an ambassador for New Belgium, for the Treasure Valley Cycling Alliance, to be part of the change needed to educate the community of Boise about bike commuting and the change it can bring to our whole city.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to tell you my story.

Where did the time go

I certainly am remiss in posting to this blog. So much has happened since 10/08. The world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket.

Creatively I am coming back into the swing. Most recently I've made some very cool pony tail holders and intend to keep my hair long to give product demo's. What better way to market the goods I'd say.

Not much else to say tonight. Really to much to say and not enough time or energy. I'll be back soon. And will post photos of the new accesories.

Back in Business!

Ok, I'm back from San Francisco and a wonderful trip with my friends. It was great to be in the city and partake in what it has to offer. We were there for the Nike Women's Marathon. My first marathon! I didn't do too bad for the first time out: 5:07. Sadly, I think I've caught the bug. Now I want to be faster...of course. I am so proud of Jen Mac! This was all her idea and we did "just do it!" We're both going to do another one, though I think she will travel and I'll do a local race. This weekend is the Zeitgeist 1/2 marathon and I'll be doing it without her.

What I never considered doing in my life, I have done. It was mentally challenging, physically laborious and really emotional for all of us. What it has left me with is a sense that I can really do anything I set my mind to.

So what's left on my list of big goals? Still the biggest one: ride across the US. It would require taking a leave of absence from my work and I just don't know that this is possible. Especially in this economic time. But alas, I still have the dream. One of our ideas is to buy a bike (tandem) on Ebay, fly out to pick it up and ride it home. That's for the initial taste of what Daren and I might be like on a ride. We did alright on the ride to Idaho City...but riding unsupported without our pals is a whole different matter.

Hills, you gotta love them!

This photo is from the YMCA Christmas Run 2006 and I put it here to remind us all tha a race doesn't have to be done in fancy clothes! My sister is the turkey and her friends and I are the forks. Don't you just love Christmas dinner!

Well Jen-Mac and I were in the hills today on a heck of a run. I think it might be the hardest run to date and it was just 14 miles. What an accomplishment though! We've both ridden our bikes on that trail but who would think of running it. Of course ...me. I compare it to the crazy duathalon idea from last summer.

I went to a party tonight that Jen's sister put on and what a lot of fun that was. It was inspiring listening to all the runner girls talking about marathoning and racing and swimming. I still can't get over the fact that 33 laps is a mile...I might try that, I might not.

Again I'm reminded of how good of friends I have and I go to be tonight thankful for all of them. I wouldn't be here without them.

Running On...

YA, IT'S COLD! So among all the other things I've been doing, I forgot to mention I'm training for a marathon. The Nike Women's marathon in October to be specific. This is the most helpful thing I've learned from Runner's World: the 10 minute ice bath. I wish I had neoprene booties...it gets pretty cold. Yesterday was the last long run before the marathon and we went 23.5 miles. I knew I could run a marathon when we were at the 22 mile marker. It was hard and I felt kind of bad for a long time, but I know I can do it and this is the hardest thing I've ever tried in my life.

Cleaning up the shack

Oh the recovery from Hyde Park ... this morning I'm trying to get the show boxes ready for winter shows and pack away the summer show stuff. It's sort of melancholy. I walked into the studio this morning and thought..ah no pressure, I can make whatever I want.

So off I go!

The Hyde Park Street Fair

Well I spent some good time in the studio on the days prior to the 3 day show. Sadly my best work comes under pressure and I really need to stop relying on that impression of myself to be creative.

The show was great over all, lots of visitors and my friends came out and supported me in full force. I realized how wealthy I really am when I saw my friends come one after another and support my craft. Nothing makes the long days better than a friendly face that knows you.

One of the most interesting booths there in my opinion was the Etsy market. What a lot of interesting stuff they had. Some really trendy, some really classic, all was fun. I looked at my jewelry in comparison to many others and felt that I have a unique style in a flooded market. I'm going to keep on making simple designs like the photo here.

So it's not too fancy, not too plain and just my style. We'll see where it takes me.

Right now I'm watching the program that Frontline put together about the energy crisis. Looks like I'm riding to work tomorrow!