80 degrees, light winds from the East

Five bucks to the first person who can accurately guess *my* plans for my day off today!!! Ha! Anyway, after my day (yesterday) of suffering (riding) in the North wind, and battling with a bad tummy for the past few days, along with my "in the back of my mind sadness" about Mike losing his wedding ring, I am happy about the "riding prospects" today.

I needed to return a book that I borrowed from Minnesota Mom yesterday at the public library. What a treat!! I (sadly) have not had a library card since I was a kid. For such a voracious reader, this is almost a crime. It also equals a "buzz-kill" if you ever have to move because it has meant that I have enough books to open my own library. And books weigh a ton! (Ask Mike and Minnesota Dad as they lugged all of my books out of the moving truck and into my "library-basement-room" last April!)

The library here in Marshall is nice and clean and modern and full of books I haven't read yet---and now I can read for free and not have a collection of stuff in my basement. I'm thinking come winter, this new library card will be a BIG plus! Speaking of winter, I kind of feel like a bear these days. What? A bear?

Yup! Bears gather food and eat as much as they can all spring and summer to get ready to hibernate for the winter. I am riding my bike as much as I can to get ready for my hibernation as well. I know I know. There's other stuff to do besides ride...and while I will love the snowy days, I will sorely miss not exploring the day outside, rolling around on two wheels. Like I said, I am not an exerciser...My riding time is my meditation time.

It's *my* time. I am not a daughter, wife, friend, etc...I'm just an insignificant spec in the wind (literally!), able to appreciate the gifts of the great "All-Mighty" above at a very personal level. I become one with whatever is dished out for the day. It's sometimes very hard work too. I don't listen to music, or talk (although, sometimes I do sing!)...but rather I just observe and give thanks for the lovely day (even when it's not technically lovely), and my "ring-less" but wonderful husband, and my family and friends and life.

Have you ever noticed how cyclists' always use words like "awesome", and usually have a stupid smile perpetually on their face?