Prairie Sounds...

So, I have been here for about 2 months now, and I just realized the other day that I have yet to hear a siren. Not a one! We even live right near by the hospital---but no ambulances or sirens. In Palo Alto, you'd hear 3-5 a day...everyday of the week as they tried to rush down University Avenue. And although you'll get some very random airplanes which fly overhead (usually transporting executives to and/or from US Bancorp or Schwan's), there really isn't much in the way of air traffic either. In the Bay Area, you've got three International Airports and a bunch of small airports within miles of each other and so airplanes overhead are as common a sight as the sun is there.

We don't have a freeway...so there aren't any freeway overpasses, and the noises associated with traffic --- and so far at least, I haven't heard any of those cars with cool stereos that drive by with the music turned on so loud that you can feel the bass drum; bah boom bah boom. Hmmm? Nice!

After a very busy day yesterday of trying to get rooms booked for all my family and friends for my wedding (there are 3 other weddings in this little town all taking place on the same day as mine and so all the rooms have been blocked off in the three nice places to stay---it's been kinda stressful). Mission accomplished...whew! I headed off to work and then Mike and I got home around the same time. He was already suited up and ready to go ride with a bunch of guys and I was hungry and so I had a snack. But I had too much of a snack, felt full, and so I thought I'd get a short ride in myself (so I'd have room for dinner! Ha!)

My short ride turned into a 2+ hour spin. It's so darn nice here in the evenings. The wind dies down and it stays warm. And it's so quiet. You can actually hear how quiet it is. Suddenly I notice this chirping sound that I hear when my wheel needs a little bit of loving care from my chief mechanic, Alan Kayser. (or Colin Baird---but he doesn't do bicycles anymore!) So I stopped pedaling to see if I could figure out which wheel was chirping and the noise continued. It wasn't my bike. It was a real FROG! I haven't heard a frog in so long!

I'd say that thus far, the most constant sounds I hear are the different birds on the prairie. My brother has one of those clocks that tweets a different bird on the hour...all twelve of those birds live here on my prairie. I even sometimes have to remind myself that these are real birds...not a clock.

Today though, the sound I am hearing is the wind. Sigh. Hopefully it "blows away" and I can get a ride in later today...but I can't really even complain. If I can get in 225+ miles a week, a day off here and there isn't such a big deal. And when you NEVER have to deal with cars and traffic, you can't imagine how much you can get done in a day and so squeezing in 2 hours in the evening (or whenever) to do a ride is so much easier.

...I'm understanding a little better the Sound of Silence. It's a nice sound---especially the frogs! And...In thirty days, I will officially be a Taylor...I sure like the sound of that!!! Happy Wednesday!