OK, so a lot of challenges and victories later, it is winter, it is cold and windy!!! I have been sick twice so far, which likely has more to do with taking on too much in recent history rather than biking everywhere, which is the theory of many a well intentioned friend. But, sick, 30mph winds, 20mph bike and an 8am Syntax class have been slightly less than enjoyable. However, awesome biking legs, feeling great about myself and my choices, the freedom to go anywhere and do anything at the drop of a hat, the total respect of a lot of people and the general sense of knowing I really can live without a car anywhere is so empowering that I will never go back. I have perfected the art of layers. 30*to 10* farenheit is 1 undershirt, 1 long sleeve overshirt, a sweater, windbreaker, yoga pants and 2 skirts. Below 10* is long johns under the yoga pants, the thicker sweater and a scarf for both my face and neck, not just the neck. A pair or windproof, fleece ont eh outside gloves and earwarmers (again only if it is below 10*). Gloves are key in anyhting under 50* though!!! I'm still in hiking socks and puma tennis shoes, though, no need for boots, as I don't reall walk much on unshoveled paths, I'm in the road, on my bike.
I will however, challenge any of the jackass guys that roll up behind me to yell something out of thier SUV windows. WHo is more hardcore? The driver in his tens of thousand dollar SUV, heat blasting, breaking the speed limit by 10mph, harrassing girl on bike. OR, girl on bike, at both 6am and 10pm, balancing down the road, pedaling hard in subzero weather. I challenge all of them to a foot race or to an arm wrestle or I know, I know, to make it 2 days without the ammenities of a highly industrialized world. No, I will show these men the exact costs of their lifestyles and wish upon them in 5 years to be put into a situation where their machismo is compromised and they have to ask for help from someone judged weaker. Someone on a bike or someone poor or someone who never would have considered owning a Hummer, as it is a mark of blood. I then hope they are haunted by the memory of the ficticious conversation we had, you know, the one in which they blew me off, the one where we had a fully developed discussion about the true cost of oil. You know, in the n world... OK, off to grocery shopping with the marsupial aka the bag large enough that my pitbull fits in it comfortably.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Still week 1, Ann Arbor
Went to a Solstice Party in A2 last night, Lansing to AnnArbor is 3hrs. 45minutes on a bike. I nearly got hit by a deer, but it was amazingly empowering to do it alone.
The ride was beautiful (all across Dexter Trail) and when I got there I was relaxed, happy and got mad props for having ridden there. I think I can get it down to 3 hours by the end of Summer, it is probably out of the question in winter, though, but we will see, depends on ice and wind.
The ride was beautiful (all across Dexter Trail) and when I got there I was relaxed, happy and got mad props for having ridden there. I think I can get it down to 3 hours by the end of Summer, it is probably out of the question in winter, though, but we will see, depends on ice and wind.
1 week, Manu Chao
BeckyJo and I went to see Manu Chao, AMAZING show!!! He is one of my favorite artists and I haven't had such a cathartic musical experience in a long time!!! Ran into 2 other groups of friends from Lansing, it was in Detroit. Becky drove.
Would I have gone to this show if Becky didn't have a car??? Would I have biked? Greyhound? Hitched?? Called Audra??
Riding back, I got the best idea for a grocery bag, a seat belt for a strap and dumpster diving for vinyl to make the bag. I'm sure it's not a new idea, but I am still excited, definitely not buying a bag, that is for certain!!!
Would I have gone to this show if Becky didn't have a car??? Would I have biked? Greyhound? Hitched?? Called Audra??
Riding back, I got the best idea for a grocery bag, a seat belt for a strap and dumpster diving for vinyl to make the bag. I'm sure it's not a new idea, but I am still excited, definitely not buying a bag, that is for certain!!!
Day 4.5 The Bar
So I took the bus to East Lansing, I knew that Randi (who I was going to be hanging out with) took it in, too, so we would be on the same ground, I like travelling like that, together with people. The plan was to take the "party trolley" back since we also really needed to have a good, deep talk away from our friends. Jumping from bar to bar, we run into Peter (her boyfriend, my housemate) and Ande, his best friend. They want to come with us, ummmmmm NO, we take off running, but they can join us later. Turns out it is too late by the time they are done with their errands, so they offer to pick us up, No, No, I want to take the Party Trolley, it is so much fun and it is already running. No need.
They come and pick us up. Very kind of them, but we definitely have different perspectives on things!!!
They come and pick us up. Very kind of them, but we definitely have different perspectives on things!!!
Day 4 Groceries
Got my bike back, things are much better now!!!
Last night, 5 friends came over for a clothing exchange party, you know, everything you would have taken to Goodwill, but your friends might like? They left all of the extra at my house (I told them to)... 4 bags of clothes, no car and the nearest VOA Dropbox is 1.5 miles, thanks goodness for those, but I really am going to need to figure out this trailer business. Nevermind, though, I will deal with that later, maybe we'll have a garage sale.
This morning is grocery shopping at the Co-Op, a few miles away, yes, but worth it. First, though, a stop at Playmakers then the bike shop (for an emergency tube repair kit, time to be responsible) then the Co-Op. As I am shopping, BeckyJo calls, checking to see if I would still come help her look at this Bianchi bike (on the other side of town). "Of course, be there in 20 minutes". Finish up at the Co-Op, but alas, my bag isn't big enough, I don't have the rack (it's summer, I have been going on some long rides) and I bought frozen mango wonderfulness, it's 90* out, the only edible things are frozen or cereal!!!
OK, well, guess I will get a $2 shopping bag, we can always use another, right? So here I go, 20mph down the main road with this bag pinching my arm, slung over the other bag. Yep, I need a bigger bag or a TRAILER!!!
20 minutes pass and I am barely at my house, throw the frozen stuff in the freezer and book it to look at the Bianchi. She already rode it... too big.
We talk and I look down, I was supposed to be at work NOW, fortunately I am only a mile away. So I sprint to meet up with my students at the school, there is a Pow Wow today, I run cultural events for my program, too. One student comes, with her whole family, though. She was late, too.
Back to the house, groceries in the fridge, I may eventually get the hang of this.
Last night, 5 friends came over for a clothing exchange party, you know, everything you would have taken to Goodwill, but your friends might like? They left all of the extra at my house (I told them to)... 4 bags of clothes, no car and the nearest VOA Dropbox is 1.5 miles, thanks goodness for those, but I really am going to need to figure out this trailer business. Nevermind, though, I will deal with that later, maybe we'll have a garage sale.
This morning is grocery shopping at the Co-Op, a few miles away, yes, but worth it. First, though, a stop at Playmakers then the bike shop (for an emergency tube repair kit, time to be responsible) then the Co-Op. As I am shopping, BeckyJo calls, checking to see if I would still come help her look at this Bianchi bike (on the other side of town). "Of course, be there in 20 minutes". Finish up at the Co-Op, but alas, my bag isn't big enough, I don't have the rack (it's summer, I have been going on some long rides) and I bought frozen mango wonderfulness, it's 90* out, the only edible things are frozen or cereal!!!
OK, well, guess I will get a $2 shopping bag, we can always use another, right? So here I go, 20mph down the main road with this bag pinching my arm, slung over the other bag. Yep, I need a bigger bag or a TRAILER!!!
20 minutes pass and I am barely at my house, throw the frozen stuff in the freezer and book it to look at the Bianchi. She already rode it... too big.
We talk and I look down, I was supposed to be at work NOW, fortunately I am only a mile away. So I sprint to meet up with my students at the school, there is a Pow Wow today, I run cultural events for my program, too. One student comes, with her whole family, though. She was late, too.
Back to the house, groceries in the fridge, I may eventually get the hang of this.
Day 2, the Bank...
So who knew that you can't run through the bank drive thru? What a remarkably frustrating morning!!!
5:40am I am trying to cash the check for the car to get the lein taken off so she can actually own it, plan is to fax the letter for release of lein to her at the Plainfield Secretary of State by NOON so she can get a plate on her lunch hour (have I mentioned my utter disgust with this type of life).
OK, no issue, I'll do it in the morning and get a run in (you might remember, my bike is in the shop). Only thing is, I already have a run planned, I'm setting the Hash https://mail.msu.edu/cgi-bin/webmail?timestamp=1182532667&md5=K9Lls3%2FDK6%2BJdsh%2Ffvu%2B1g%3D%3D&redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fglh3.dyndns.org%2Fglh3%2F.
No big deal, set the Hash past the Credit Union, I can definitely still get to work by 8, maybe 8:30, but LCC in the Summer is pretty laid back, I'll get there. Banks don't open until 9, but the drive thru opens at 7, this will work...
5:50am I run and run, get lost, set the trail and have just enough time to run to the Crescent Rd. Branch and go through the drive thru... 1.5 miles out of my way,
7:05am Hooray, the drive thru is open, up to the teller, she scoffs at me. "What, I ran here, nothing weird about that", I think.
7:06am Push the button and the cracking walky-talkie voice asks me what I'm doing, I tell it I'm depositing a check. It asks me where my car is, well OBVIOUSLY I sold it, here is a giant check to pay off the loan with enough extra to cover tuition for the Fall. Duh! I guess walky talky voices don't have the ability to analyze a series of clues. The walky talky then informs me that I can't do that in a drive thru unless I am driving, which I found to be ridiculous since the only thing I have to drive is the check, isn't this a Catch 22, didn't the voice read the book? It then informs me that I must be in a motorized vehicle and that I would have to wait for walk-in hours. (again, walky talky, not so smart, why would someone run through a drive thru if her work schedule permitted going to a bank?!?)
7:10am As I was running away, I thought (as one always does right after a conflict), next time, I am bringing my lawn mower (until I remembered it is a push mower and that wouldn't work either) The rest of the run home I spent envisioning riding my sewing machine, the rototiller, blender, etc etc...
5:40am I am trying to cash the check for the car to get the lein taken off so she can actually own it, plan is to fax the letter for release of lein to her at the Plainfield Secretary of State by NOON so she can get a plate on her lunch hour (have I mentioned my utter disgust with this type of life).
OK, no issue, I'll do it in the morning and get a run in (you might remember, my bike is in the shop). Only thing is, I already have a run planned, I'm setting the Hash https://mail.msu.edu/cgi-bin/webmail?timestamp=1182532667&md5=K9Lls3%2FDK6%2BJdsh%2Ffvu%2B1g%3D%3D&redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fglh3.dyndns.org%2Fglh3%2F.
No big deal, set the Hash past the Credit Union, I can definitely still get to work by 8, maybe 8:30, but LCC in the Summer is pretty laid back, I'll get there. Banks don't open until 9, but the drive thru opens at 7, this will work...
5:50am I run and run, get lost, set the trail and have just enough time to run to the Crescent Rd. Branch and go through the drive thru... 1.5 miles out of my way,
7:05am Hooray, the drive thru is open, up to the teller, she scoffs at me. "What, I ran here, nothing weird about that", I think.
7:06am Push the button and the cracking walky-talkie voice asks me what I'm doing, I tell it I'm depositing a check. It asks me where my car is, well OBVIOUSLY I sold it, here is a giant check to pay off the loan with enough extra to cover tuition for the Fall. Duh! I guess walky talky voices don't have the ability to analyze a series of clues. The walky talky then informs me that I can't do that in a drive thru unless I am driving, which I found to be ridiculous since the only thing I have to drive is the check, isn't this a Catch 22, didn't the voice read the book? It then informs me that I must be in a motorized vehicle and that I would have to wait for walk-in hours. (again, walky talky, not so smart, why would someone run through a drive thru if her work schedule permitted going to a bank?!?)
7:10am As I was running away, I thought (as one always does right after a conflict), next time, I am bringing my lawn mower (until I remembered it is a push mower and that wouldn't work either) The rest of the run home I spent envisioning riding my sewing machine, the rototiller, blender, etc etc...
Day 1 JUMP
Day 1, Officially (well kind of) Car free
The woman buying this car lives in a totally different world from me, she's paying full price but asked me to take it to a shop and get it checked out. They said the fuel system needed some work ($127). She expected me to get it done, how strange!!!! In my world, we barter, we keep a poker face, it is a rush, everyone walks away thinking he got a deal, no one takes it to "their mechanic" everyone is their own mechanic. OK, whatever, I can wear this mask, I convinced my Parisian friends that I was Swedish, I can do this, too.
So I took it to the mechanic (got lost on the way, thank goodness I will be done driving!!!) and walked to the bus (2 miles) to go to work. It was about 90* but I was in a great mood, these are the tings I will be doing now that I am car free and my bike is in the shop, OK, this is a bump, but it's kind of like forced personal time; no one can justify taking it but it is completely nescessary.
The woman buying this car lives in a totally different world from me, she's paying full price but asked me to take it to a shop and get it checked out. They said the fuel system needed some work ($127). She expected me to get it done, how strange!!!! In my world, we barter, we keep a poker face, it is a rush, everyone walks away thinking he got a deal, no one takes it to "their mechanic" everyone is their own mechanic. OK, whatever, I can wear this mask, I convinced my Parisian friends that I was Swedish, I can do this, too.
So I took it to the mechanic (got lost on the way, thank goodness I will be done driving!!!) and walked to the bus (2 miles) to go to work. It was about 90* but I was in a great mood, these are the tings I will be doing now that I am car free and my bike is in the shop, OK, this is a bump, but it's kind of like forced personal time; no one can justify taking it but it is completely nescessary.
Day 0 On the precipice
Here we go, being car-free in Lansing and still trying to keep up with my life.
Day 0,
A woman in Grand Rapids is going to buy my car, Sabina (the car's name, not the woman's). She is overjoyed (an so am I)... She will be getting 41mpg and I will be getting infinite plus my freedom and independence. She is stopping by tomorrow.
My car was all but gone so I bought a trailer off craigslist $50, not bad, he sold it to me for $47.78 cash (all that I had). "I can now haul groceries, the recycling and my dog, PERFECT!!!", I think, so took my bike to pick it up, makes sense right? This is, after all, what I will be using to carry it. I got almost home when I turned the corner, the cheap aluminum attachment broke and took out 2 spokes with it(SCHWINN is now a Department store company I come to find out). OK, not a problem, there is a new bike shop in town and I wanted an excuse to go in anyhow.
Day 0,
A woman in Grand Rapids is going to buy my car, Sabina (the car's name, not the woman's). She is overjoyed (an so am I)... She will be getting 41mpg and I will be getting infinite plus my freedom and independence. She is stopping by tomorrow.
My car was all but gone so I bought a trailer off craigslist $50, not bad, he sold it to me for $47.78 cash (all that I had). "I can now haul groceries, the recycling and my dog, PERFECT!!!", I think, so took my bike to pick it up, makes sense right? This is, after all, what I will be using to carry it. I got almost home when I turned the corner, the cheap aluminum attachment broke and took out 2 spokes with it(SCHWINN is now a Department store company I come to find out). OK, not a problem, there is a new bike shop in town and I wanted an excuse to go in anyhow.
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