stellastarr

I think the attached picture sums up my feelings about yesterday.

For some reason, this household has 1.67 bicycles per capita. Naturally, only a few work, but the rest are almost rideable.

Turns out yesterday I tried riding two that were in the “not ride worthy” category. I started off with my brother’s old bike, which I tried airing up the tires, but managed to have the tire come off the wheel in the process. I didn’t know this.

Picture this: girl in a headscarf (it was REALLY windy) and huge headphones in her backyard, leaned up against the fence, pedaling her heart out but is going nowhere. I had one foot on the ground, the other on the pedal, leaning at a 70 degree angle to the fence so I couldn’t fall over. I wasn’t moving. I started pedaling my heart out, and I realized that the only reason I was moving forward was that my foot on the ground was helping to push me forward. Yeah. I got annoyed and tried to get the pink bike of doom from the garage, a Univega that is about 25 years old and in need of a tuneup.

Bike: 1, Me: 0.

Same thing goes- air up the tires, deep breath, walk it out to the backyard. I try getting up on the saddle but since this is a road bike, it sits much higher up. I promptly fall over on the ground. Try it again, and I catch myself before I fall over again. I swear a lot, and put the bikes back in the garage. Damn.

Bike: 2, Me: 0.

We made progress today. Bike number three is a Takara from the 80s. Air up the tires, deep breaths. Bring the bike inside. Death grip on the couch. Sit on the saddle, one foot on the pedal, push forward. Fantastic, except the bike is in too high of a gear to work. I had someone fix it, then try two. I made it two feet. Try three, five feet. Try three, seven feet. One hand on the couch/chair/wall, one on the handlebars. Deep breaths.

Tomorrow I shall take it to the backyard when the weather is better.

Bike: 2, Me: 1.

I’m moving for college in a few months, so it’s important I learn. I’m getting the bike I want for my graduation present, on the condition that I learn to ride before I graduate high school. I can do this.

I found out that KU offers Arabic, so I’m going to enroll in the fall when I move up there. The culture and language intrigues me, and I feel that I need to learn the language to have a deeper knowledge and understanding of their culture.

It’s wonderful. I used to suck at baking, but since I started ditching the mixes and going on my own, I can do almost anything. I love baking now and people love it when I bring in some homemade goodies. :) I think it’s a skill people need to learn.