If you are going to do it...

You might as well look good!

You may have noticed (especially if you are following Triathablog), that I am a little excited (obsessed?) with cycling right now. One teensy problem has been figuring how to look cute when I get to, say Bottletree or Urban Standard. I found this great website Copenhagen Cycle Chic, sort of a Sartorialist for cyclists and fell in love.



I am now riding a bike that is not a step through. Gone are the days of wearing skirts while riding...or so I thought. Then I saw this photo and realized that the answer to my problem is to be found at my local Urban Outfitters. Leggings! and mini skirts! and legwarmers! all the things I love.

I can't wait until it gets a bit colder...I am going to be Rockin' the cycling style in Birmingham.

of course, I still want one of each of these for more serious riding.





All from Harlot, a women's cycling apparel shop. How can you not love a company who has this written on their website:

Many people ask us about the name Harlot. Certainly, an old word for prostitute might seem like an odd thing to name a company after. We actually have a good reason that makes sense to us. It involves the history of women on bicycles, the reclaiming of a derogatory word, and little tongue-in-cheek fun.

see you on the roads...I'll be the one NOT in spandex

When Vanilla is anything but

A happier post for your reading pleasure.


Have you seen these? They are made by Vanilla Bicycles in Portland. One man makes all the bikes that come from there. They are handcrafted by Sacha White and are just stunning. Truly a craft. Each bicycle is custom made for the customer. WOW. Aren't they gorgeous? I would be just so adorable on one. Navy blue, with a brown leather seat. yes. oh, wait...there is a FIVE YEAR waiting list. Just enough time for me to save enough money to get on of these puppies.

I have been interested in these for a little while, but recently came across a documentary about Sacha White and Vanilla. You can see it here. Very interested stuff.


Maybe if/when I move to Portland, I will acquire one for my bike riding future.

well, am leaving town tomorrow, will see you kids Sunday!

24 hour Elisa may cause nausea

Many of you have been asking me about yesterday and sending your love and support. Thank you so much, friends. I feel that an update is wanted, but, alas, is not coming. It is not that I don't want to share my day, it's just that I am a little sick of me. This blog is becoming a bit too Elisa-centric. I know, I know, what the hell did I start a blog for? That is a very good question. All I know is that right now I want a break from myself and the constant introspection and explanation and whatnot.

I will however, tell of one highlight of the day, which was more restful and also more sad than I anticipated.

After work, I went for a bike ride. A little exercise, some nature; it seemed perfect. And it was. I went along Jemison trail and was moving right along, ducking trees and smelling the honeysuckle and remembering happy things about the last year of my life. About a 1/3 of the way, I had the option to go 'off road' and take a side trail. so I did...and promptly laid my bike down. Not just a little fall, either. A major 'sliding along the dirt and sticks with your bike on top of you for at least 5 feet' affair. I just laid there, stunned for a minute before surveying the damage. All limbs were fine, bike seemed to be in one piece. However, I had gravel firmly planted in both of my palms and one entire leg was scraped (even under my pants) and my ankle and knee were throbbing. What did I do? Laugh. my ass off. I just laid there laughing. and shaking a bit.
I was only 1/3 in and I really wanted to continue my ride, so I cleaned out my hand cuts with my water and shirt, dusted myself off, made some minor adjustments to the bike...and kept on going. A bit down the trail a little girl saw me and started crying "Daddy, that girl is bleeding! Why?!". I looked down to see that I did, in fact, have blood running down my arm and leg. Oh well, such is life. I trudged on, and still enjoyed myself immensely. I was proud of my fall (I have been waiting for it to happen since I got the bike) and I felt a little like a bad-ass (you know how I love that!). I even went much further along the path than normal, carrying my ride across the stream again (stopping to again clean off the wounds).

The whole time I was doing it I thought "Scott would love this." He never made me feel silly for doing crazy things and when I told him that I felt brave, instead of rolling his eyes or making a little comment, he would look at me and say "you are brave".
Scott, my bloody bad ass ride was for you.

Coming soon: musings on Alabama vegetables and what the hell to do with Turnip greens that come dirty from the ground with roots attached!

Weekend round-up

This weekend round-up is going to be a bit redundant, as I've blogged a bit this weekend.

Friday night, I did what I do almost every Friday night. Not a thing. I came home, ate and took a little nap. Awoke and putzed around the house, showered a read until bed at midnight. This is my little routine on Fridays and I find myself looking forward to it starting every Wednesday.

Saturday I spent the day in Waverly, AL. See last post for more on this.

Sunday was a lovely, lovely day. Breakfast with a dear friend at V Richards. We normally only spend about 45min to an hour, but today it was nearly 2 hours. I sorely needed the encouragement and fellowship. Thanks Charlotte. I came home, grabbed a blanket, book and glass of water and headed outside. I laid on the ground and perused the Times Book Review. After about an hour, I realized that the backs of my knees were sorely sunburned (oops) and I headed inside...to finish my nap. It was a heavenly rest with the breeze and the smell of fresh earth and the birds chirping. Next up was a grocery store bike ride, where I was nearly run over by the many, many, many people in my neighborhood for the Earth Day free admission to the Zoo and festival at the Botanical Gardens. I had planned on strolling over to the gardens later, and promptly decided that was a terrible idea.
I have found that a great way to talk to my neighbors is to park my bike somewhere. Everyone wants to talk about it, or reminisce about the time they rode a similar one, of how badly they want to start riding again. Today it was an older gentleman who told me that he belonged to, and helped start, the Birmingham Bike Club. He described the bike he used to ride (flown in from Japan!) and the good times the club had. He fondly recalled the picture that the inagural group took and described it to me in painstaking detail. It was certainly a refreshing, surprising conversation for a balmy Sunday afternoon.
Went to church and was again delighted at how at home I feel. It is such a gift. Scott K. gave a great sermon and music was, as always, inspiring and worshipful.
Home to cook. Sat down on the kitchen floor, with NPR's The Splendid Table podcast (a Sunday night ritual) playing and cookbooks spread around me. I decided what to cook for dinner (summer squash), and blanched some green beans to make a green bean salad in the morning. I love looking through each cookbook and seeing what strikes my fancy. Today it was Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan as well as Provence: The beautiful cookbook. Both highlight the flavor of vegetables with simple preparation. Planned some meals for the week, ate the one prepared tonight and dreamed of a trip to Italy. Instead of Italy, I opted to do laundry. What an exciting life I lead! Just like those single women on Sex and the City...or the complete opposite.

Well, off to read Alton Brown's Feasting on Asphalt:The River Run (do you sense a theme in my life?!). I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable weekend. Sweet Dreams.

Weekend round-up

I missed last week, and this one is late. My apologies for all of you who wait every week with baited breath to see just how I spend the Saturdays of my life.

This weekend, I was kind of a bad-ass. I mean, in my own little way.

Friday, I tried to script. Didn't go so well, so I slept instead. Don't worry, the bad-assy-ness is coming up...

Saturday I went and scripted in the morning. I actually wrote this time. Then CJ and I went to Brookside, AL for the Brookside Greenway Festival. CJ was treated like a celebrity...which meant that I was as well. (She used to report on that small town and made them feel important and cared about, which is a beautiful gift that she has. They see her as a female Ricky Bragg around those parts!). We heard about the history and then...went on a canoe ride (see what a bad ass I am?!). We canoed the mile easily, and decided toward the end that we didn't want it to be over, so we should probably turn around and go against the stream. We also planned a canoe trip for May 10 (more on that later), and another one with one of the owners (I told you they love her) for after a big rain. A 10 mile trip. I can't wait.
Then we milled around a bit, and decided to get out of the rain and go to O'Henry's. I love this place. I didn't realize how much I love it until this weekend. It has the coolest vibe (and Fred from Lasers edge still has his own drink named after him there, which I totally dug), and is comfortable and welcoming. After some coffee, it was on to the bike shop, where I shopped and my friend flirted. I bought a rack and headlight and taillight (finally! no more prayerful rides home at night on Montevallo road). Went home, rested and showered...then went back to OHenry's for more scripting with another friend.
Sunday, I got up and had coffee and french toast. Sat on the stoop a while, then decided to go for a quick little bike ride. An hour later I returned home, dehydrated, covered in mud and exhausted, but thrilled. I had, in the span of the hour, become a biker. I biked hills, I flipped off rude drivers, I carried my bike over a stream, I dashed in and around puddles, I rode over rocks and grass. In short, I was a bad ass.
On to church, after a quick shower. yes, that's right-church. The place I had been avoiding since Scott's death (and honestly for some time before that). It was time. And you know what...it felt like coming home. The place had changed and I didn't feel totally at home, but I was loved and knew that one day it would fit better. again. It was very hopeful. Plus, I really, really missed the music. Also met with a building guy about the garden I am going to make on the rooftop patio. I am very excited and hopeful about that. Now I need to get a proposal together, some volunteers, a long term plan...yikes. Oh, and some plants. I think it is going to be a healing, life-giving thing for me.
Then I went home and went to bed. Slept like a baby.
Today I biked for my first time across a busy intersection (on 31) back to the bike shop to have my rack and water bottle put on. I am ready. You may never see me in my Mini again...

Well, off to bed. Or to script. Probably bed...

Bonjour!

This is from Stuff white people like (you can find the link on the side of my blog):

But there is a special category of bicycles that appeal far more to white women, the European city bike (pictured). White women have a lot of fantasies about idealized lives, and one of them is living in Europe and riding around an old city on one of these bikes. They dream about waking up and riding to a little cafe, then visiting bakeries and cheese shops and finally riding home to prepare a fancy meal for their friends who will all eat under a canopy with white Christmas lights. This information can be used to help gain the trust/admiration of a white woman, especially if you can pull off a lie about how your mother told you about how she used to do all of these things when she was younger.

And of course, it goes without saying that white people who ride bikes like to talk about how they are saving the earth. If you know a person who rides to work, you should take them aside and say “Hey, thanks. Sincerely, The Earth.” Then give a thumbs up. That white person will ride home on a cloud.

Yep, that first paragraph is me. This is what i dream of, what I want. Guess I am a white person.
And the second paragraph is just hilarious. Especially since I have plans to ride to work in about a month (hills there and back...must train a bit)!

The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend so I am hoping to take a ride, maybe visit the Botanical Gardens, maybe just sleep. I finally got everything moved out of the apartment where Scott was living (Thanks to my Wonderful CG...they packed and moved me and unpacked me and hung drapes and pictures...truly a gift), so this weekend actually feels free. That is nice.

Little Miss Sunshine

That is what I feel like today. Sun is shining, I am wearing a spring dress (ok, I have a long sleeved T underneath and tights, but still...), loud music, sunroof open. I would give anything to be able to take the rest of the day off, get on my bike and just go. Water bottle on board, book in the basket, me and my thoughts and the wind and the sun. Glorious.

Days like today and I am all "What problems? My life is wonderful, perfect, sunny! who wants to plant something and then make pesto and drink mojitos and talk too loudly and laugh too hard and too long?"

ME, that's who.

it even makes me not care that I have 2 huge holes in the toes of my tights.

on a related note, a friend just told me that the State Motto for South Carolina is dum spiro spero, which apparently means "while I breathe, I hope." Isn't that lovely? Can someone steal a State's motto for their own? Well, I just did. Thanks, Trip for the info.