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.
Uptown
Construction in the 300 Hallway in Gibson Hall at Tulane
My legs were feeling yesterday’s ride, so I was less than thrilled to be back on the bike this morning, I admit it. I lowered the gear and spun my way to school for my first day in the new classroom. I lugged my lower body up a couple flights of stairs and took a right into the hallway to greet my newly-remodeled room. Continue reading
Feats of Engineering at the Huey P. Long Bridge From the Levee Path
The weather outside today was simply beautiful, enough so that I didn’t mind having to be in my office at noon to meet J., who calls that the crack of dawn (which it sort of is, for a Sunday). After a quick meeting I rode over to catch the Tulane women’s basketball team in their CUSA showdown against Houston. Continue reading
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.
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
Boat Docked on the Mississippi at the Fly
Today was the first day of classes for the spring semester. I love the first day of school. It’s like the first day of the baseball team: everyone’s in first place, no one’s fallen behind yet, and everything’s all new and crispy. Love. It. I got up early, hopped on the bike, and headed to campus. Continue reading
Christmas Lights at Delachaise & Magazine
It actually feels like Christmas to this Idaho girl right now–it’s actually cold. Lots of folks don’t ride in this weather, and some friends have even hinted that it’s a bit incredible that I do, but seriously, if you put on some layers and ride a few blocks, you’ll be fine and toasty. I rode around town today running errands and getting some work done at the office. By the time I was heading home with my groceries, it was dark and even colder, and I spent my ride admiring the holiday lights folks have put up on their palm trees and shrubs and porches. Continue reading
For Your Protection Please Close Gate at Freret & Audubon Place
I have simply been swamped with work this week. It’s finals time, and the students are cramming and pulling all-nighters while their teachers are turning into grading machines. I’ve been snowed under by the flurry of it all, which means I haven’t been getting the bicycle rides in that I’m used to. The great thing about commuting by bike, though, is that I’m guaranteed to get a quick five or six miles in, no matter what. Continue reading
Fenced Street Drain at Nashville & Garfield
Today’s bike ride was limited to the commute to school and back because I am positively slammed with grading, and today was Final Exam day for section two, which meant four good hours in the classroom, watching them all scribble away with their heads down as I read through their end-of-term reading journals. I try to spot read–I have too many students to physically respond in detail to that many journal entries–but I always seem to fail. Continue reading
Police Car Graveyard at Alvar & Chickasaw
It is springtime in New Orleans again. Every time I think it’s time to swap out summer clothes for winter, we get another temperate day like today, perfect for a bike ride with no destination. I hopped on the Surly and headed downtown, only to run into a holiday parade. A parade! I love a parade. This was a short one, but it featured stilt walkers, the McDonough 35 band, dancers, and, of course, Santa Claus. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 