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April 02, 2006
Thursday Alley Tally, Wrenching, Plus Later, The Thundering Herd
Oh, I am lame, sometimes. So very lame.
Not entirely because I made it to Build Your Own Bike (BYOB) class on Thursday, and even rode down there,(as opposed to taking my Hybrid Vehicle~ also known as putting my bike on the front of the bus) as the weather was sooo beyootiful, sunny and warm! And an auspicious day for garbage picking, oh yes. Warm temperatures, spring cleaning, moving season, and a lovely set of panniers newly installed on my bike all add up to quality dumpster trolling. I gotta pristine leather portfolio and a nice piece of green marble, from a largish pile that appeared to be the cast-off junk of an artist, and reeked of turpentine. Still, the portfolio is pristine. You can't have too many.
Then I stopped off at Marcel's and brought him some canned food and new cheez treats. We walked to the park and on the way we stopped to see Lucy the Spaz (and all the more spazzy in the warm sunshine) and share some new treats and get jowly boxer-dogue smooches. You haven't lived until you've had some! Believe it.
After our walk we tended to canine oral hygiene, much to Marcel's semi-dismay. He is still conflicted on tooth brushing. Chickeny toothpaste is one thing. Holding still is another. We're working on it.
The ride to North Ave. from Marcel's was fast, under fewer layers and with a more relaxed posture- instead of bunched up against the cold- riding is more like flying. I met a friendly girl and her dog, Bowie, outside the Sultan's Market (or do you call it Falafel King? I do!)
by the bike rack. We chatted, then I went in and ate~ chickpeas and lettuce and cukes, egg, and grape leaves and artichokes, shrimps and tomatoes and beets! Oh salad! Salad my love. And plus ate the chunks out of my falafel sandwich and left the pita and hummus, as is my custom. And guess what? My blood sugar was 69! 69, hmm, suggestive.
Oh, I try so hard to keep the Knit A Log clean! Forgive me.
Anyway, this guy came along
(shown here astride Cacophonon, the tall cymbal/drum bike, at Friday's Mass, thanks again to Don S. for use of his photo!) and he finished my pita and rode with me to class, even carrying my cup of coffee as he rode, this is because he is multi-multi talented (in addition to being big, strong, and ruggedly handsome, believe it!).
In class I installed the bottom bracket, which is not as easy as it sounds, boys and girls! Not necessarily so hard either. But there's quite a bit of wrenching and grease involved, and thus I got to feel macho, which is why I love wrenching so much. I put on some cranks and pedals, too, and now its starting to look like a bike again, hourah!
Here is another bonus Mass photo, for your viewing pleasure, also taken by Don S., it is a girl I don't know but see at the rides. So don't ask for her phone number even though I know you will all want to be her friend!!! Because I don't even know her name, but if I did you'd better believe I'd keep her all to myself. Mostly because I love her helmet.
I didn't make it to the mass this time. This is why I am lame! But here's the thing, by my house there were 40 mph winds. Plus rain. Ok, I am a wuss but I made up for it by being productive and painting instead. I now have 9 finished paintings, 2 more in the works.
Yes, I am a painting nun.
There's some nice video footage also of the mass, taken by ho3rd, you can see it here~ http://ho3ard.blip.tv/file/22316
Its pretty fun, just be careful of the sound!
I haven't knitted anything.
Posted by at April 2, 2006 12:02 AM
Comments
So when are we going to see the Pippy-powered tall bike? Or even better, tall TRIKE!!!
Yeah. That's hot.
Posted by: David at April 2, 2006 11:45 AM
Ooh build your own bike class. That sounds like lots o fun. I love garbage trolling season. Dumpsters are still fairly scarce around here, needs to get a bit warmer first. I love peeking in the dumpsters people put in front of their houses for renovating, for cool architecture salvage, got some doorknobs to match my 90+-year-old ones from a dumpster. Sometimes a dumpster full of beautiful treasures I just don't have the ability to lug (like large doors), other times its just dirt, plaster and lath. Always worth peeking though :)
Posted by: Tanya at April 2, 2006 08:51 PM
Tall trike is much more difficult and dangerous to ride generally speaking.
Anyway, there isn't one in chicago or nearby that I know of, so pippypippy should talk to me about building it.
=travesty
Posted by: travesty at April 3, 2006 05:12 AM
I bet a tall trike wouldn't be as hard to ride. You could start there.
Posted by: rob helpychalk at April 4, 2006 08:16 AM