Yesterday’s attempt to get a bike ride in to change the mood was foiled by rain, but today, after getting some writing done at home, some grading done at the coffee shoppe, and a scoop of ice cream, I got on the bike and headed out for a ride. Continue reading
weather
Blue Sky, Clouds, and Power Lines at N. Peters & Bienville
I spent my morning finishing up my book and dismantling furniture for my upcoming move before heading out on the bike for various and sundry social activities in Mid-City. I stopped for a burrito and an afternoon sangria with myself–a favorite Saturday afternoon activity of mine. Continue reading
No Swimming Signs in Lake Pontchartrain at Lakeshore & Leon C. Simon
The weather was absolutely ridiculous today so after a morning at home with my book, I got on my bike, stopped in the Quarter for a margarita and a burrito, and then headed out toward Lake Pontchartrain to see what it looks like when a lake rises several feet because the river is flooding. Continue reading
Blue Sky & Snow in McCall, Idaho
If you met me today, you might think I have always been into bikes, but the truth is, I’ve only been riding regularly for a few years. I can’t really remember what I did before I wanted to ride a bike around everyday, but I vaguely remember that I spent a lot of it smoking. In other words, I have come to ride a bike in New Orleans, where it is flat, flat, flat. Continue reading
Row of Blighted Houses at Caton & St. Bernard Avenue
I tried to sit in my office and do work today, I swear. I wrote about three sentences, met with a student, wrote a recommendation letter, and had lunch with R. and chocolate with R. But then I gave in to my senioritis and the 80 degree weather and took the bike out for a ride. It was seriously windy and I couldn’t seem to find a tailwind, so my ride was a heavy pedal in low gear all afternoon. I wasn’t in any kind of hurry, so that worked for me–hill training! Continue reading
Barge on the Mississippi From the Fly
When I left home on Friday afternoon for a weekend retreat in beautiful Raymond, Mississippi, it was literally freezing. Imagine my surprise returning to bright sunshine and warm temps–it feels like springtime up in here! I was exhausted from the long weekend, but it was a most excellent exhaustion from time spent with a truly remarkable group of students, faculty, and staff. Continue reading
Rain
The weather was nice this morning–no wind, cool–and the commute to work was easy breezy. The weather report said it would rain today, and it did. All I saw on my ride home were puddles and raindrops through my wet, steamy glasses. Don’t start a ride in the rain, my father says, but sometimes you’ve got to, and this ride wasn’t bad. I made it safely home, jumped in the shower, put on some cozy pjs, and hopped into bed with my book. That’s the sort of thing that feels better after a few quick miles in a storm.
My Own Breath
You know what I saw while riding my bike around today? My own breath! Yesterday I was sweating through humid rain, but last night the cold came in, catching me walking around the Quarter in a skirt and flip flops. And today it’s just plain cold. I layered up, including gloves and my windproof fleece jacket, and headed out. I forgot my ear warmer thingy. Need the ear warmer thingy. The ride in the cold wind was less than pleasant. Fortunately I ran into my buddy N. at work, and she lent me her hat. That made the ride home infinitely more enjoyable, enough so that I did a lap around the park just to see if folks were braving it in the cold (they weren’t, except for the kids on their high school track teams–no rest for the children). Riding in the cold is easy peasy, if you dress for it.
Rain at Jones Hall on Tulane’s Campus
I had one of those days today when you leave for the office for 9:00am and don’t get home until after 10:00pm and you were pretty much working every second of that time and the only bike ride was the commute. The great thing about commuting by bike is that even on packed-full days like this one, you get to ride your bike. Continue reading
Dogs Wrestling at Wisner Park on Annunciation
When I left my house today it was sunny and warm, almost 70 degrees and humid. Tank top weather. In January! I headed to campus to write rec letters and meet an old, old friend for lunch. By the time we’d finished lunch and I’d walked her to the streetcar, dark clouds were rolling in. The sky was spitting just a little bit, but things were still dry when I got back to the office. I rode over to N.’s after work to accompany her and her dog to the park. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 