Bicycles and Bread

$125

2011-12-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

I think of a lot of things I could do with $125. Buy that 700 fill down Rab jacket I have had my eye on, buy more bike parts, pay off more of my student loans. Spending a month living off of only $125 isn’t something I have contemplated, until now.
We as a people spend to much money on things that don’t matter. Eating out, buying useless clothing items because they are “new”, going out to movies we end up hating. I have decided to cut out the crap I don’t need to live and live simply with what I have.
$125 is the average amount of money given to people on food stamps. That evens out to about $30 a week for food only. What I am attempting to do is spend $125 on gas, food, entertainment, and clothing.
I loosely began this challenge three weeks ago but didn’t start taking it seriously till December started. I withdrew $140 from my bank account on Friday and have started the challenge. With this weeks grocery money already spent on Almond butter, soy milk, and fruit, this should be interesting. I will be posting recipes from this experiment on my other blog, but will keep regular updates going about the joys and struggles of this decision.
If you want to join in on the challenge, please do. I would like to see how other people do at this challenge.

Winter Bike

2011-11-09T22:36:00.001-08:00

Winter is coming. At this point in the game there is no denying it. Skis come in by the dozens at the shop and I have moved from talking about tire options with customers to wax options and ski lengths.
Living a mile away from work now means I don't have to drive at all, though I find myself running late at least once a week and have to drive. :( The mile cruise down hill, through the Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake makes for an easy morning commute. The mornings that I walk I some times stop by one of the three coffee shops I pass for a mug refill. Going home isn't always as enjoyable, though I do like it. A one mile hill climb with what feels like an 18 percent incline is what greats me on my way home. I live on A street and about 9th ave and work two blocks from I street and South Temple. The closer I get to A street going up hill, the steeper the the hills get. I use to wiggle my way through the aves to get home, up one block, over one block, till I realized I should really just grin, bare it, and get my ass in gear, literally, because hills aren't going to get easier any time soon. This way of thinking has actually been helpful. By the time I get to 9th ave I am usually over the fact that I am slightly sweaty, breathing heavy, and utter a small matra of success under my breath. The hills have gotten slightly easier the past few weeks. The more time I spend on the bike, the faster I seem to get. Funny how that happens.... (sarcasm intended)
As the months get colder I will cling to my bike a little harder. I just lost 10 lbs. You think I want those back? I'm not going out looking for them so for now I will stick to riding my bike during the cold months, don a pair of warm gloves, marino wool base layers, and good shell jacket with pit vents.
Dear winter,
I'm going to kick your ass.

-Punkin Pants

I'm back!...on two wheels

2011-11-03T22:55:00.001-07:00

There is no string of sentences I can bring together that is going to explain my absence from the interweb the past few months. I will say this as my only disclaimer; I do all my best thinking on my bike and when you aren't able to ride your bike for three months because of a broken humerus, there isn't a whole lot of good thinking that happens.
But now I am back and making a goal to blog at least twice a week. For real. I am serious this time. Tuesdays and Thursday maybe? Who knows. But I am back with a vengeance and my veins pumped full of bicycle fueled words.
Lately bicycles have meant so much more to me than they have in the past. Perhaps my three months sabbatical is the cause of this. Even as the temperatures drop and we usher in yet another cold Utah winter, I can't get enough of the one mile hill climb to my house, the feeling of cold cheeks, and the ultimate feeling of untrammeled freedom I get from riding a bike. The feeling of my legs: hips, quads, knees, ankles, feet, all taking me where I want to go. My lungs, gasping for oxygen, feel so much better at the end of the day when I have strained them for air and asked them to be stronger. My mind feels clearer and my waist line is noticeably smaller. I currently don't fit into about half of my clothing because it is all to big. I have three pairs of pants that actually fit. One pair are Carhartts, the other are electric blue skinny jeans I bought during my quarter life crisis.
Regardless of my ill fitting clothing problem I am happy to be back on my bike and hope that with consistent updating I can inspire a few of you to get ahold of two wheels and enrich your lives.

For My Dad

2011-06-19T19:59:00.001-07:00

One Sunday afternoon in 1993, while living in San Diego, California, my dad gathered his hiking things, and said to me, “We are going on a walk, it will be fun.” We drove into the hills of San Diego, our exact location escapes me, till we came to a parking lot where the trail head was. After unloading our gear my Dad pointed to a concrete pillar in the distance and said, “We are hiking to that point. I promise it isn’t far.”
We ended up hiking further than the pillars but I was so lost in the the beauty of the landscape, I didn’t care. As we rounded a corner some people mentioned that they thought there was a snake on the trail. I was hiking 15 feet ahead of my dad and jumped over the snake when I saw it, then turned around and said, “Dad, watch out. There is a snake on the trail!” As he approached it he nudged the snake with his hiking pole. The snake immediately went into an attack position and struck my Dads boot! Literally bit his boot. Dad was shocked and backed up as the snake released. As the snake slithered off the trail my Dad muttered some comment about being an irresponsible parent and I told him how cool he was for playing with the snake.
Small trips like this became a ritual for my Dad, as well as weekend education on all of his hobbies. I became skilled in reciting lines from Marx Brothers films, “I never forget a face but for you, I will make an exception.” Politically rhetoric, “Al Gore, I’m hungry, lets go to congress.” and the differences between battery types (go with lithium ion). My Dad made sure we were all journal writers and gave us lots of notebooks to write in, top of the line pens to write with, and stationary to write to our grandparents with.
Even though I saw my Dad three months out of the year for the first 12 years of my life (He had sea duty in the Navy), he was always there to support my siblings and I in whatever capacity he could. When he wasn’t recording one of our choir or band concerts, he was out searching for the next piece of technology we could use to enhance our lives, after he was done “testing” it and before anyone else had even heard of the product.
My Dad never fails to intimidate suitors with his 6’4 build and booming baritone voice but when you get to know him he is the biggest sweet heart who only wants what is best for his family. After a recent botched dating experience I was talking on the phone with my Dad and told him what happened. He said a few comforting words and when we got off the phone he sent me a text that read, “Forget that Arrogant, self-centered, rat-bastard, Mormon boy. You are too good to put up with his crap!”
I am forever grateful for the Dad I have. For the never ending flow of stories from his childhood that I never tire of. Even at the age of 25, I still look forward to going home, going on a hike, and talking technology with my Dad.
Thanks for everything Papa.

Obama Dreams

2011-04-22T14:41:00.001-07:00

obama dreams
I don't usually remember the dreams I have. Some times it is clips and phrases but nothing really tangible. The other night I had the most vivid dream about President Obama. It felt so real I thought for minute it might have really happened.
The dream started out with me working in the presidential garden, tilling the field and tending to the greens and newly planted tomatoes. I was working with one other person I remember feeling like I had really made it since I was working in Obamas garden.
While working some soil I heard the president and Michelle Obama having a heated discussion over something as they walked in the garden. When their conversation became more audible I eavesdropped in on what they were talking about, soy. Michelle insisted that the president needed to start pushing soy as a viable crop for farmers in the US to grow instead of corn because it could feed more people and we could use it for soy yogurt and milk. The president didn't agree and told her that isn't the direct we needed to head. She handed him a cup of soy yogurt, urged him to try it and stormed out of the garden.
The president stood their for minute eyeing the cup of soy yogurt. I approached him, which made me really nervous, and started talking to him about what his wife had just told him. This is what I remember me saying to the president in my dream.
"Mr.President? I couldn't help but overhear what you and the First Lady were talking about. I agree with what you had to say about soy. I think you have it right and you need to encourage the farmers of America to grow more viable crops that will help feed the people and not livestock."
He said he agreed with me and thanked me for my input, said he would look into farmers growing more vegetables, and took off back to the white house.
I wish there was a reasonable explanation for this dream but there isn't. I'm just a hippie I guess.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Japan Effect

2011-03-21T23:29:00.001-07:00

"I know I keep saying it, but I really wish I was in Japan right now."
A sentence my brother has uttered to me said daily since the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster happened in Japan.
To some people, hearing both of us say that might sound a little strange. Why would we want to be there in the middle of a natural disaster? Japan is where we grew up, it is our home so naturally we want to be there to help the people we love rebuild a country we love.
Hours after the earthquake my Dad was skyping and e-mailing our close family friends, The Sato's, to make sure everyone in their family was accounted for. We got word that everyone was safe but Tomoko and Yuka were stuck in Tokyo because of the trains.
My family being one that is familiar with disaster (and being Mormon) we knew immediately that the Satos would most likely need an emergency food source since the grocery stores were quickly running out of food and batteries. My Dad consulted my brother and I on the best brand of backpacking food and then took off for Costco to buy a life type supply of batteries and dried food for back packing. The next day it was shipped off to the Sato's, since they were still receiving mail in Fujisawa. I received a forwarded e-mail from Sato san a few days later that read, "You are such a great man. We opened boxes. Surprise ! Many batteries.Lamps! foods.survival goods. You absolutely Ultra man ! We just laugh and then tears... We have great family in USA. Really appreciate you and Jodie san. No words for thanks. If you can open attached movie files,watch our joy."
Since the Sato's are family to us, Eric and I decided to send our own box to them. One filled with all the sweet moral boosters you could ever need. Girl Scout cookies, Ritter Sport, and Fruit Loops.
Ok, I know what you are thinking, but in the middle of a crisis wouldn't you want something to boost your moral?Sure, we could have saved that money we spent sending a package to them and donated it to a relief fund, but I am happy to know that my contribution is going to directly impact people I love.
I am encouraging everyone I know to donate whatever they can to support the cause in Japan. Whatever you can donate, they can use.

Notes on a (environmental) scandal

2011-03-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

It is no secret I am an environmentalist. By profession, no. By passion and dedication, yes. I don't need to give a laundry list of reasons why I am dedicated to making the world a better place. In all honesty, it just happened that way for me.

Having worked at a student bike center focused around sustainability and for the Utah Conservation Corp for a total of three years, I have gotten to know the environment. The simple changes we can make in our daily lives to better our bodies and the world around us make more of an impact that we think they do. For example, making meat 10 percent of your protein intake will not only help you become healthier, you are also helping decrease factory farming, one of the most unsustainable farm practices (in more than one way).

In the Spring of 2009, while on (bike) tour with the band Shake Your Peace!, I was told about a man named Tim DeChristopher who had bid on 14 parcels of BLM land that were going to be leased for oil and gas drilling. His bidding tab amounted to $1.8 million. At first I thought, "Wow, this guy is a hero! Way to stick it to the man and dedicate yourself to the environment." I did a little research on him and thought he had done the right thing, to some degree.

Last March I moved to Moab to do conservation work on BLM land with the Utah Conservation Corp. I fell in love with the beautiful landscape and often found myself thinking, "Why would anyone want to screw this land up by drilling on it?"

While living down South I was taking an environmental studies class focused around public lands. I got to know why BLM land is range land, why we drill on parts of it for oil and gas, and why it is important to protect it.

As part of the class we were required to read a number of articles on Tim DeChristopher written by different points of view. I hadn't thought about DeChristopher much since 2009 but now I was interested in what was going on. I dug a little deeper into his case and realized, he didn't bid on those parcels for environmental reasons, he bid on them for personal reasons. Though people may think that DeChristopher had done something revolutionary by bidding on those parcels of land, he is only one in a line of environmentally conscious people who have bid, and won, parcels of land headed for oil and gas drilling. The difference? He had no intention of paying for them, the others paid up.

I am extremely skeptical of DeChristopher and his "environmentalism". I am familiar with a large amount of environmentalist, extremists and none extremists, all having their own reasons for doing what they do. But they all have one thing in common, they don't show horse the work they do for the environment, they do it because they love it. Their actions are also similar, they ride bikes, plant gardens, support local projects dedicated to sustainability, and are about 80 percent vegetarian. None of them seek the lime light for their actions and they never seek out celebrities for their cause. They are all quiet riots of sustainability.

This is not the case for DeChristopher. Seeking out the support of Patagonia clothing company, Robert Redford, and other celebrities seems like only a personal ploy. If DeChristopher had really wanted to use his environmental foot hold for good, he would have got involved with grassroots organizations, marched with the people in West Virginia to end mountain top removal, and spent less of his time seeking out celebrities to back him at film festivals.

I realize that I sound angry. That is because I am. Angry that some one would use environmentalism to gain celebrity status and expect to not get the book thrown at them for breaking the law. I work hard to make sure people don't think that sustainability is a movement full of hippies. when someone like DeChristopher comes along, he makes us all look like Earth First, E.L.F (earth liberation front) freak shows and I get a little irked.

Tim DeChristopher broke the law and no "necessary evil" defense is going to change that. As far as I am concerned the only necessary evil is on public lands. Oil and gas drilling and range land leasing are necessary evils because we have made them so. If we want to protect our lands from these things, we have to change our life styles so we no longer rely on cows, oil, and gas. That is only way for more protection to happen.

I want thoughts on this. If you think Tim DeChristopher is a saint, I want to hear why.

Being outside

2011-02-26T07:59:00.000-08:00

I have been reading up on bike a lot lately. My brother and his girlfriend are doing a tour of Napa Valley and need some help getting bikes and touring gear together. I feel like a kid in a candy shop with every bike parts website and shop I look at.
Damn, I love bikes. I love them a lot and I feel so blessed I get to go to mechanic school in a two months and learn more about them. What a fine machine. Looking back into the memory banks of my mind, some of the best and most calming moments are those associated with riding my bike. Even in Europe, where I was miserable, I was so happy to be riding my bike and seeing the country side of Bavaria. What is there not to love about bikes?
I went to the climbing gym on Wednesday and had a bonfire ignited inside me that I can't seem to put out. I forgot how much I loved climbing and how good it makes me feel. I have had some great moments at the crag with friends; night climbing in Logan Canyon, learning how to lead with Annie, getting lost in the City of Rocks, climbing at the only crag in Kanab, Utah with my crew from UCC.
Since Wednesday I have been doing some research on where I want to climb this summer. I don't want to put climbing on the back burner again, I bought a 70 meter rope for a reason. There are three big spots I want to hit in the next six months; City of Rocks, Triasic, and Moab. I want to get back in touch with climbing on a bigger level. Not a First Assent kind of way, but a, "I love the rock, I love the earth, I love myself, so I want to climb this." I want to do multi pitch climbs, easy climbs, hard climbs, bouldering. I guess you could say I want it all with climbing. I have been at the same place with climbing for a while now. I don't want to be in that place any more, I want to be better than that place. I am done being mediocre, so I am going to do what I can to be great. I know I will never be Lynn Hill when it comes to climbing, Evelyn Stevens when it comes to cycling, or a Lindsey Vonn when it comes to skiing, but I've got passion, isn't that what matters the most?
Today I am taking that passion to the mountain with me and enjoying the 19 inches of powder we were blessed with last night. I am fully aware of my inability to ski powder like a champ, but I have to start some where and Honeycomb Canyon sounds like the place.

Gotta let it out

2011-01-23T22:11:00.000-08:00

When your Saturday night looked a little like this, it is hard to remember where Sunday went.

Actually, I worked a double last night, which means I was working from 3 pm- 8 am. I still haven't slept and I am wondering when I am going to get tired. Even after skiing for two hours, still wasn't tired. I have been up for over 36 hours. What is wrong with me?

Skiing today was beautiful. I know it is Sunday and by my own standards, I really shouldn't have gone out on the slope. But I was up at the mountain any way so I thought I would make a few runs. I met up with my friend John and we did a couple runs together. I like skiing with other people, it makes me more confident. Having some one to ski with is always worth a few laughs too.
I can't quit thinking about how beautiful it was on the mountain today. Blue bird skies, no wind, a chill in the air, only a few people on the mountain and a friend to share it all with.
For the past few weeks everyday has felt like the best day ever. I don't know why. I could get yelled at by a patron at work and five minutes later I think, "Man, today is great!" Call me resilient.

I made two loaves of sourdough bread this weekend. They were devoured by the beasts and a can of Nutella.

I found these

2011-01-21T00:39:00.000-08:00

Gina will probably kill me for posting these but...whatever.
I found my digital pictures from senior prom the other night while looking for a pair of scissors in my desk. There are a whole slew of photos from 2004 on the disk but the Prom ones called to be posted on the interweb.

25? Why are you not married?

2011-01-20T01:00:00.001-08:00

Yes, I did get asked that today. Again. For the 2nd time this week.

So why are people asking me this?

Good question.
For those of you who don't live in Utah, that may have stumbled upon my blog, being female, not a return missionary, and single at the age of 25 in Utah means there is something wrong with you.

What is wrong with me?

I am a radical. An extremist. A hippie. A brazen woman.

Really?

No.

I am none of these things.

I'm not marries because I haven't met the right person.

This could be due to the fact that I call a spade a spade, I speak out at inopportune times, I don't trust easily, I have opinions I share often and don't change easily. I some times go a month without shaving my legs (but I cover them up so you can't tell). I swear....like a sailor. I lived an equal amount of months outside as I did in a house last year. I wear Carhartts. I drive a Subaru with stickers on the trunk window that read "Quit eating babies America! Eat more poetry" and "Protect Wild Utah" and "No Farms. No Food". I shop organic. I can repack the baring in a bike wheel, overhaul a drive train, adjust the breaks and fit someone to a bike better than most guys.

I am not married not because I compost, vote, quilt, cook dinner for three people nearly every night of the week, have a BS in journalism, garden, ride a bike, make bread weekly, ski, play violin, minored in music, collect vinyl records, scrap book, crochet, start my garden from seed, love making people smile, give willingly, wear high heals, love unconditionally. Because I'm 32 flavors and then some.

I'm not married because it hasn't happened yet.

Plain and simple.

Bread

2011-01-19T00:38:00.000-08:00

Bread has once again taken over my life. Outside of working, skiing, reading, preparing the garden, and training, I have been geeking out about bread. No, I am not working at a shop again (sadly) but since my roommates and I are trying to cut costs and I have the ability to make bread, I have become the head bread maker in our house. It has been great to take on that responsibility again since I love making a really good loaf of bread.
Since getting a starter going again my bread production has increased and my excitement for bread as well. There is something great about having a really good starter that makes bread production that much better.
I fed the starter tonight in preparation for tomorrows dough. Giddy and smiling I head to bed knowing that the microorganisms are having a party in the glass bowl sitting on my counter top. mmm.....

MLK Day

2011-01-17T22:54:00.000-08:00

While listening to npr this morning, I heard a really great news cast on Martin Luther King Jr. It took me back to when I went to DC for the fourth of July in 2008 and got to stand where Martin Luther King stood and gave his "I Have A Dream" speech. It was so empowering to stand in front of the Lincoln Memorial, looking over The Mall and imagining being there. I have imagined myself as Martin Luther King Jr., telling the country that I dream of the day when my children are judged not by the color of their skin but the content of their character.

Having grown up with racism being a huge part of my life, I know what it feels like to have people judge you by the color of your skin. I know the feeling of being told you are a terrible person because of your beliefs. Because I know how that feels, I don't want to ever impose those feelings on someone else.
I want to fight racism in all of it's forms, against all the people of the world. We should take pride in being human and unite as such. I love that the world is diverse and is full of people with all different skin pigment variations and the cultures that are associated with them. But I don't want to put people in a corner because of their skin difference.
Over the past few months I have come to realize that the only way anything to change in this world is if everyone wants it to change. We have to unite for change to make it happen. I want to see that change happen with my generation and future generations to come. Lets make every day MLK day.

Family

2010-12-11T14:33:00.001-08:00

"Hello?"
"Hi, sweetheart. We've got some news. Grandpa just died."
"Oh, really? Dang. I thought that was going to happen tonight."

I had just been awoken at 4 am by my mother. My dads father had just passed away. Earlier in the day I had said my good byes via phone. Although he couldn't talk back to me, due to his situation, my dad assured me he heard what I said.
I haven't always been a family person and I especially haven't been big on blogging about them either. I am not a fan of "mom blogs", something about bragging to the world about my family doesn't seem right to me. I am hoping to not brag about them in this post. I just want people to know why I think family is so important.
I didn't grow up close to my extended family. Living in Japan while the rest of them were scattered around the US made seeing all of them at once impossible. I went five years at a time without seeing cousins or grandparents so to me, the idea of having cousins as close as brothers or sisters still takes some getting use to for me.
In September I took a job in Salt Lake City. With little money to my name I asked my aunt and uncle who live in Salt Lake if I could stay with them for a few weeks. I offered to camp in their backyard so I wouldn't intrude on them but my aunt and uncle insisted I stay in the house, in a huge bed. Living with them for a month I was awarded the chance to get to know my cousins like I hadn't been able to in past years. Hanging out with husbands, holding babies, playing games and swapping stories. I spent my evenings talking my Aunts head off, asking my uncle questions about my mothers side of the family, and piecing together, in my mind, the years I wasn't present in their life. I thumbed through photo albums in the bookshelf in my room, looking at birthdays and baptisms, proms, and weddings. "This is what their life was like while I was in Japan." I often thought during one of the many late nights I spent pouring over photographs.
When I found a place to live, I realized I wouldn't be able to spend as much time with them when I moved into my new home. Yes, they would still be in Salt Lake but it's not like I could, on a whim, call them and say, "Tell me about your childhood and going to the cabin."
Being able to get to know my mom's brother's family and the passing of my grandfather has made me realize how short our time with these people is. I can't continue to say, "I have tomorrow to say hello to the people that really matter in my life." Truethfully, we only have today.

I moved again?

2010-08-22T19:00:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's true. I have once again packed up my Subaru and headed North. Well...more north than Kanab and less North than Logan. I now reside in Salt Lake City, in my aunt and uncles basement. I have a real job now. You know, one of those jobs that pays you a decent wage and give you benefits.
I am pretty stoked on this new job because I get to do what I love best, talk about bicycles all day and get paid for it. I feel blessed to have a job doing something I love and using my degree. I have been wanting to find a journalism related job for a while but it seemed like nothing was working out till now.
Living inside has been a little weird. I don't really like it. There isn't a chorus of crickets and frogs that sing me to sleep every night. You can't feel a breeze indoors, and for some reason I find sleeping on a sleeping pad so much more comfortable than a bed.
I am glad I get to shower every other day now. It is nice to get up in the morning and say, "I don't think I want to shower right now, I'll shower later." Instead of waking up and saying, "I wish there was a shower here. I am dirty, smelly, and I haven't shaved my legs in two months."
New bikes to me are like crack cocaine. If I could own seven bikes, I would. lately I have been checking out whats new in the bike market so I can see what my next purchase will be in the way of bikes. I promise to post about bikes in my next post.

The Wave and the earth

2010-07-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

Working for the BLM has had it's advantages. It makes people hate me before they even know my name (People in Kanab don't like the BLM very much), I am strangely OK with this. I didn't want to leave any ties in Kanab any way. But in all honesty, working for the BLM is great when you want access to areas that most people need permits for, such as The Wave. The BLM only allows 20 people to hike in the Cyote Buttes area surrounding the wave, everyday. People in their 40s cry when they don't win the lottery for a pass. That is how much of a big deal it is.
I got to go to the wave last week, sans lottery, with one of my crew members, to "assist" one of the rangers on her patrol to make sure people had water (it was 95F outside. It is a six mile hike round trip) and were legally hiking there with a permit. One of the strange things about The Wave is that when one gets to the trail head there is no one there to check if you have a permit. This makes it possible for any shmoe to hike it, if they feel like breaking the rules. With the hike being so spread out any one could access this area if they really felt like it since it is not patroled every day. Don't get any ideas guys, it is protected for a reason.
Seeing the wave made me realize how much I love being out in nature and why I joined the Utah Conservation Corp to begin with. It wasn't so I could go out and ride sick trails all day (I have never wanted to do that). It was so I could connect with the earth and figure out why people really want to save it.
Living outside since March has given me ample time to think about why I want to save this big world. It is because I'm not the only one who lives on it and because it is so damn beautiful I often find it hard to describe it.
Utah State Rep, Mike Noel, for district #73 was quoted in a High Country News as saying, "Worship the creator, not the creation" when asked about Grand Staircase Escalante. Being of the same religious persuasion as Mike Noel I don't agree with what he is saying. Although I don't think people should worship trees, I know that protecting our public lands is something God would want us (us being EVERYONE)to do. Why else would he give us such amazing unique places on earth? I don't think he did it so we could open uranium mines on them or drill for oil. My days in the surrounding areas of "God's Waiting Room" are numbered, but I am thankful every day that I am there. In the middle of no where. Taking it all in.

Kanabistan

2010-06-25T08:58:00.001-07:00

I was reminded last weekend by my boyfriend of the importance of updating my blog so that people will actually read it. I am prone to agree with him.
I am living in Kanab now. It has been an interesting transition, working in a place that is drastically different from Moab.
Despite a few set backs, things have been going well. I went to Durango last weekend with a bunch of UCC folks and went to bakery called "bread" that I had heard about a while back. They make artisan bread that reminds me of Crumb Brothers bread. It is wuality artisan bread and it isn't expensive. I got to meet the owner, by chance, and he gave me a free bag of granola for telling him how much I liked his bakery. He knew about Crumb Brothers baker and told me to apply at his shop, because some times they are hiring. Not bad, eh?
They also give away cool stickers that say "Bread not Bombs" and you can buy cycling caps that say "Bikes not bombs". I got a cycling cap and a stack of stickers. If anyone wants a sticker, let me know. I'll send one your way. Rob, you already have one coming to you with some other stuff.
I have missed being around bike culture. Here in Kanab, there are very few people who ride bikes, and even fewer who like bread. Not having artisan bread is taking it's toll on me. I need my crusty goodness!!!!

Mobile Me

2010-05-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

It seems that I've fallen in love with the bohemian life. But just for a while. There is something fantastic about sleeping in a tent, living by the river (yeah, I really do), taking siestas in a hammock and waking up with the birds every morning. I love the feeling of being so free. But I also crave sustainability in my life. Routine and a real bed.
So what does this all mean? It means that I have spent the past month and a half living in a tent in Moab, working for the BLM on trails. But my time in Moab is coming to a close rather quickly and in two weeks I will find myself in Kanab, UT Till August. I will be doing similar work in Kanab only I will have my own three person crew. This excites me and scares me all at once. I have never been to Kanab and the only thing I ever hear about it is how much people love their guns, land, republicans. Wow. I will most likely no longer be able to find Organic produce, let alone hummus. This is going to be...fun?
Now that I will be all over the place I will start updating my blog more so everyone can keep up with my crazy, bike riding, out side living life. I intend on going on some pretty crazy adventures. All of it will go down in history here.
I should have written about Durango here. Hot damn... Durango knows how to party, especially during a bluegrass festival.

Pictures to come soon!

You say you want a revolution

2010-04-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

I came to the realization long ago that when one is informed it becomes their duty to pass along the information that is important (and occasionally not so important) to others.
Being informed for me has meant that I have become more politically active and out spoken than I ever thought possible for myself. If you know me, I am out spoken as it is, adding politics to the situation only makes things... interesting.
Currently in our country teachers jobs are being cut like it's the governments job to make public school a worse place than it already is. In States like California and New York (just two examples I am using, I am positive that this happens in more places) Schools are already over crowded, teachers are over worked and underpaid. To add insult to injury, the government plans on cutting thousands, literally, of teaching positions to help take care of the deficit.
THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA! This idea is worse than bailing out the banks and auto industry combined. Don't let our schools become a place where education is second to crowd control. Schools are bad enough as it is, we don't need them to become worse, they need to get better. Cutting teaching jobs and combining classes isn't going to solve the problem, act up and do something about it.
If you are doubting the difference that teachers truly make in students lives, watch this video of Taylor Mali, a New York City school teacher, performing his poem, "What Teachers Make".

Conquering fear

2010-03-10T23:47:00.000-08:00

I live most of my life in fear. I'll admit it. It's not a big deal for me anymore now that I have realized it. So what does this mean exactly? It means it takes me twice as long to do things in my life than the average bear because I am to afraid. NOT ANY MORE!
The past few months it's been my goal to move past fear and into faith. I can live in faith and be happy, living in fear does nothing for me.
To move out of fear I acquired a portion of a sourdough starter and have been feeding it. I've used it to make sourdough pancakes and sourdough biscuits (for biscuits and gravy). It feels slightly carnivorous to be feeding something, watching it grow, and then eating it. But I like it. ;)
The second thing I have done is...... I am auditioning to be in a poetry slam at USU. I love slams, everything about them. Watching the poets as they pour words into the microphone for you to drink up creates this energy that is unmatched by anything else I have ever experienced.
I'm conquering fear. Watch me.

The death of a friend

2010-01-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

I'm 24 and I haven't experienced much death in my life. I have friends who have had 8-10 friends and family members die before they were 18, not me. My life has been defined by people that I meet, not loose.
My friend Eric, who lived in San Francisco, died Jan.3. I only got to know Eric over a three day period, while staying with his house mate Gabe. Eric lit up whatever room he walked into with his kind heart, jokes, and bright spirit.
I got the joy of celebrating Eric's 30 (or 31st birthday, can't remember now) with him and eating a beautiful and delicious brunch made by him to celebrate the occasion, with the rest of the pilgrims who had come to stay at the Fair Avenue house for the San Francisco Bike Festival. At one point during the meal Eric motioned to a box in the corner of the room "There are fresh California nectarines in that box, help yourself." "Are you sure? I'll eat the whole box if you let me, those aren't in season for another month in Utah" I said. He answered "If they aren't in season where you live, eat more! They were just picked a day or two ago" I told him I didn't have a way to repay him and he answered with "Just tell us your stories, thats all we ask for". Eric truly embodied the phrase "Food for thought" feeding people all over San Francisco in exchange for a conversation.
The night before I was to depart San Francisco I was packing up my things and Eric said to me "Don't forget to take some fruit with you". I ate nectarines the entire train ride back to Utah.
Eric's Kindness to the people around him will never be forgotten.
Although I am sad to have a friend taken at such a young age, I am grateful to have known him.

Cheers to a new year

2009-12-31T22:44:00.000-08:00

There is 15 minutes till the new year arrives and I am sitting at my parents house in Colorado typing away. Most people may ask "Why are you not out partying?" In reality, I should be. With the heavens and hells that 2009 brought me, I should be celebrating the fact that the year is over and I am heading in a new direction in life. But instead I have chosen to be with the people I love most, updating a blog I barely write on.
I have nothing bad to say about 2009. It was such an eventful year for me. I graduated from college, went on my first bike tour, planed and exicuted the fourth annual Cache Valley Bike Festival, and got to spend a lot of time with my brother.
There were heart aches, heart breaks, emotional highs and lows that I wondered if I would make it through. There were memorable bike rides, car rides, and hikes that made me realize that life is so much bigger than the 3x5 we find ourselves looking at on a daily basis.
I am excited for 2010, really excited. I can't wait to ski as much as I can afford, climb as often as I can, ride to wherever I want, laugh more, love more, and not be afraid of what is out there. Cheers 2010, I love you already.

Bikes: Why I winter ride

2009-11-24T09:53:00.001-08:00

I've been called crazy for years for riding my bike for commuting purposes, no mater the time of year. In the winter the use of crazy seems to have a higher percentage of usage in context to people riding their bikes. Crazy is as crazy does, I just want to ride and here is why.
People ask me all the time,"Why would you ride your bike in the winter? It's so cold" I ride my bike 350 day a year, putting weather on the back burner because we still drive, walk, and go about our lives regardless of what the weather is doing so why would I stop riding my bike because of it? Snow storms, flooding, cold below 0 F and monsoons are the exception for not riding my bike. Riding is a great way for me to wake up in the morning. Any time I have had to drive to work, due to bringing big things to the shop, I have found that I am not as alert because my heart rate hasn't been brought up and my body hasn't moved a great deal.
Today it was 15-20 F when I let my house this morning. Although I could have easily driven my car (the 8 blocks to work) I rode my bike because although it maybe cold, riding a bike keeps me warm. I don't have to bundle up as much as I would if I were walking.
So what do I wear to keep warm but not over heat? Every winter I try to find the right combo of base layer to jacket ratio that will keep me at the perfect temperature but truthfully it comes down to having a good wind breaker, great gloves (I use Pearl Izumi crab claws)something to keep the ears warm, and a scarf to keep the wind from chapping the face. From there I adjust my layers as needed for the temperature. If it is very cold, I'll put on some spandex pants under my jeans or skirt (yes, I still ride in skirts in the winter), and wearing shoes that the wind doesn't cut into as much.

So there is snow on the ground in the winter, big deal. I just ride a little slower, a little more cautiously, and I make sure my tires have the proper psi in them to give me the traction I need. I don't ride with nobby or studded tires in the winter because there really isn't a need for them unless one is planning on riding in some hardcore snow. Slicks do fine as long as you aren't trying to be a speed demon.

I'm not afraid of father winter, he can bring on the snow and the cold, I'm still going to ride because it's what makes me feel good and helps me do my part to ensure that Cache Valley air stays a little cleaner.

Life: A year of of used stuff

2009-10-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

An update to the blog! It's about time and I will start blogging a lot more now that I have given myself a challenge and a reason to blog. What is the challenge/ reason?
I am spending the next year, October 2009-October 2010, not buying brand new things. What defines "things"? Shoes, shirts, pants, cooking wear, sheets, towels, things for my apartment. A whole year.
This means that if I need/want something I have to go to a thrift store or yard sale and buy it. My reason for doing this is because people throw out perfectly good, almost new things every day all because capitalism tells them that they "need" this new thing, or that new thing. For example; I bought a Bosch stand mixer from the local thrift store, Somebodies Attic, for $9 this summer and it was barely used. You could tell from the condition of it that it may have been used a total of 15 times and then placed in a closet for 10 years before they got rid of it. With things like Bosch stand mixers out on the used market, I see no reason to buy new things.
Since starting this challenge I have bought the following things, that I needed for my apartment, used:
- Bosch Stand Mixer
- Metal Bread Box
- Madeleine Pan
- Angel Food Cake Pan
- Toaster oven with a rotisserie option (all parts included and owners manual)
- dutch oven style crockery pot for Shepard's pie

For my personal use:
-Peacock looking shirt (to wear at Thanksgiving dinner)
- USSR cycling Jersey
- The dvd (still in packaging!) of "The Bands Visit"
- Burton Beanie (that I subsequently lost last week and saw someone else wearing on campus days later. Right on! Glad you found it!..I am dead serious)
- Two winter sweaters from DI in purple and red
- A vintage PUMA messenger bag
- A 2001 Subaru Forester
- A Fuji Supreme bicycle and rear basket

I'm off to a good start and surprisingly I have started to curb my craving for buying useless crap. I do credit watching the story of stuff being one of the major reasons I am doing this. Watch it, it will change your life.

I miss

2009-09-21T19:20:00.001-07:00

Some times I miss New York. I'll listen to a song or smell something that strikes such a powerful chord with me that I can feel that warm summer breeze that occasionally sweeps through NY in the summer picking up the smell of everything around you and tossing it into your nose. I miss the hot subway tunnels and struggling to learn Spanish just so I could talk to the clerk at Fine and Fair. I miss the energy that exists in that town that keeps you up till 2 am just because you want to dance in your living room or watch the people as they walk through Chelsea to their parties and night clubs.
I keep telling myself I won't move back, I won't, I won't, I won't! But I can never be to sure. The big cities are calling my name these days but I won't be moving to any of them for at least another year. Thats ok, I feel the push to go and I'll leave when I am suppose to.

It's been 3 months...

2009-09-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

I really do suck at blogging. Making the habit to do it is hard and not always rewarding. but I'm giving it another go.

I last left off with going to San Francisco, which was an eye opening trip and I loved every minute of being there. The city, the people, the bikes, the food. I didn't want to sleep the whole time I was there because there was so much to take in. So grateful for the friends I have out there who were willing to let me stay with them.

Currently in life I am working at Aggie Blue Bikes and at Crumb Brothers as a bread former. I'm leaving Cache Valley in a year so I'm just working to save up money and -gasp- buy a car. Yes, it is true. I am buying a car. Why? Here is the story...

I got hit by a car last Wednesday and it totaled my bike. Although I will be buying a new bike I need a car to get around and leave the valley. I hate the fact that motorists "own" the road and that I am succumbing to getting a car (yeah, I really do think I am above cars. It's true) but everyones morals have a price, and my price happens to be my life. I don't want to die and this is the second time I've been hit by a car. Crazy and true.
There is the latest tid bit of my life, more later this week.

Parting shot

Sing it as you please...

2009-06-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

It is late, I should be blogging but I don't want to forget about my laundry that is drying and leave it to my room mates to deal with while I am in San Francisco.
Yes thats right, I am on my way to San Francisco tomorrow night for a weekend of bike insanity at the San Francisco Bike and Music Festival.
It's been a while since I have been this adventurous, going out to SF on almost a whim but I am sick of living cautiously and this is a perfect time for me to throw all my problems to the wind. My assignments for class have been turned in, I have my work stuff in order and tomorrow at 11pm I board a train with my bicycle, a sleeping bag, and a back pack full of things I "need" for the trip. I am anticipating everything and nothing all at once.
About a week ago I had a great experience. An eye opening experience. Iwas a Pounders Hawaiian Grill and saw my friend Bill who works there. He is a bigger fellow, weighing in a roughly 250. I asked him how he was doing and he said, "You know I am doing really well. I started riding my bike every where and have only driven my truck three times in the past month. I also lost 20 pounds because of it and I have started to notice so much of Logan that I didn't see before." Whoa, what a minute. Bill is on a bike? I am shocked, but so happy! Guys and galls, if truck driving, 250 pound Bill Sproat can get on a bike and ride it over 2 miles a day, so can you! Get out of the house and get on a bike this weekend, or go for a walk! Don't just do it to loose weight or get in shape, do it so you can get to know your local community and scenery. Sing it as you please this weekend. I want updates!

an absence worth taking

2009-06-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I last blogged. To long. I've had ideas I've been mulling over for the past month that I've wanted to write down but where do I start? I haven't written in four months and in those four months life has taught me lessons that I never would have learned had I not been willing to take a chance. Taking chances, thats the biggest lesson I have learned. More often than not I don't want to take chances, I just want to live my life my way. God never intended for us to live our lives our way. He intended for us to have a plan but take chances so we could get from point A to point B.
I went on a bike tour with Shake Your Peace!, an ecologically contious rock band based in San Francisco, in May. It was the greatest thing I've done in a year. We biked from Logan to Salt Lake City (which was so easy, I don't know why I haven't done it before) and stopped at high schools and bars along the way to play shows. I spoke with the Utahopia now crew about the importance of bike riding and I was the first officially roady that Shake Your Peace has ever had. It was great to be with people like me for a week. People who care about ecology, sustainability, community, human rights, and riding bikes. I met people who genuinly care about other people. This hasn't happened for a long time.

I am now one of many formerly engaged girls in Utah over the age of 21. To many Utahins who still hold on to the passe view that you must be married by 21, this means that I am worthless. To me this means that I am doing what I am suppose to do, I am finishing my college education and going to baking school so that I can live my dreams. It means Im not giving up on what I have wanted to do since I was a child, and I am happy about it. I am so happy I want to climb to the top of th Wells Fargo building on Center and Main. St and scream at the top of my lungs!

Being happy is important, and making yourself happy is even more important. I am still learning how to do this since I spend most of my time trying to make other people happy. I am being a bit selfish these days, I am spending more time baking and less time with people. This is making me happy and I feel like I am going in the right direction.

In August I will be done with school and moving on, well to some extent. There is a chance I will still be in Logan since my contract with Aggie Blue Bikes goes until mid fall. I am looking for baking aprenticeships right now so that I have the experience for chef school.

That is life, Maybe I'll start postin more often.

Weekend of Tamales

2009-02-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

I decided to host a tamale making party last night and realized last minute that I didn't have enough steamers to cook the tamales in. We ended up being able to remedy that but I must tell you, making 50 tamales is not for the faint of heart. Brock and I cooked for 5 hours last night. We started at 6 and left the house around 11:30 to escape the madness of food, tons of people in the house, and the mess of dishes that still needs to be done. The tamales do taste AMAZING for being gringo made and Zeik, our resident house Mexican, even approved of them. I would totally do it again because it really isn't that hard but make sure you have a lot of time on your hands, at least 5 hours.
Other than the tamale making extravaganza the weekend has been great. Brock took me out on a hot date Friday night. We ate at the Tandoori Oven, got lemon bars from Sweetly Divine, and watched "New In Town". I gotta hand it to that kid for being so amazing and planning such a great date. I feel so blessed to have a boyfriend who truly cares about me and my well being
I still have my media law paper to finish and an article to write so I am off to do that.

The work Blog

2009-01-28T16:43:00.000-08:00

Everyone has done it at least once. I feel less guilty about blogging at work since my blog includes bikes and I work at a bike shop.

The Logan weather keeps getting colder, I am predicting snow and freezing temps till at least mid march, then we might see 32 at night again. I haven't done much riding on the roads but yesterday I did have to do a delivery for work in which I had to use the Bob-trailer. Oh man, I need to get a Bob-trailer, those things rock! it worked like a dream despite the snow and ice.
I am officially addicted to bonk town. It is a gear website for roadies like chain love. I bought a jersey from them yesterday and almost bought a box of energy bars from them today. I probably look at the site at least five times a day. I need to break the addiction.
Since moving into my new place I have been deemed the house Mom by my roomies. I am the oldest and the only who knows how to cook for 10 people at a time. I don't mind being the house Mom, they call Brock Dad so all of us are pretty much a family.The best part about living in the Pink Door House is no Drama. I never have fights with my roomies and if we have a problem we talk it out. It's great.
School work is calling my name but I leave with this parting shot. Dang, I wish I would have had a few of these when I was in New York, I saw some pretty hot bikes.

New Post, New Year, lets make this happen.

2009-01-27T12:50:00.000-08:00

I think this picture is cute.

I am making these for Monica's sister's 7th birthday.
We are having a tea party for her.

I miss my peugeot and really want it back so I can fix it. It is currently on loan

I want to travel here with Brock.
P.S. It is in Paris.

When I have kids my son will totally get these at his birthday party

Been doing a lot of this lately, just not on a dock.

Vegans and Gas

2008-09-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Im all for a healthy diet and eating well. It's pretty obvious or I wouldn't talk about polenta or quino and all the time and rave about how delicious fresh artisan bakery bread is. But I do have a problem when people force their dietary ideas on me telling me how I need to stop eating meat and advocating for a "healthy" life style when they drive an SUV.
While riding up to campus today I was riding my bike up 500 North when an SUV whizzed past me with the phrase "GO VEGAN" right above their gas cap, in bright yellow letters. I had to laugh. You think people should go Vegan and yet you drive an SUV? That makes about as much sense as the hipsters who are soooo into riding their fixie every where in order to live a "healthy" life style and yet smoke like chimneys and drink PBR like it is water.
Don't get me wrong, you can have your cake and eat it too but don't stick your life style in my face and tell me how wrong I am for eating meat sparingly (I've had it once in the past month, so shoot me) when you drive an SUV. I am not saying that this dude was telling me in particular that I need to go Vegan but I have had many a Vegan in the past few months tell me that I need to not eat honey because it's not "vegan" or do this or that to be "more vegan". I stay away from high fructose corn syrup, I eat mostly organic, I ride a bike every where every day, I eat whole grains. Don't tell me how to live my life, and I won't tell you how to live yours.
XOXO.

Here is the link to my first publication of Domestic Domination, the next one comes out Monday. my mom and sis left comments, feel free to leave some as well.

http://www.utahstatesman.com/contents/features/domestic_domination

Whats the deal?

2008-08-26T15:59:00.001-07:00

My blog is about bikes, music, food, and life. I periodically write about one of the subjects but today I will be writing about all of them.

I am enraged right now. Not just mad or pissed off or angry. Enraged. What started off as a seemingly normal day has turned into a hurricane of anger in the span of a couple hours.
I had a lunch date with a fellow I have had the hots for since last May...on and off. Since I was in NY for the summer and he was in Idaho it was pretty clear that nothing was going to happen so I got my hopes up that something would happen this fall. Perhaps I hoped to high since today while we were waiting for lunch to cook he told me how much he likes some chick who lives in Salt Lake City. I got demoted to "Sister Status" by him in less than five minutes. wow....seriously, wow. I honestly thought we might have something going on since we both love riding bikes, listening to music, and eating delicious food. But beyond the fluff of that we get along great. We can communicate with each other (or so I thought) and have really good conversations.
I get sick of trying to find some one to date. Trying to find some one I get along with. I am probably taking this all to personally and that is why I am pissed off. I think I was hoping for just a wee bit more than I ended up with. Oh well.
On a lighter note, two great things happened to me this week. I got a column in the statesman for my cooking column and I got a job at a bike mechanic at Aggie Blue Bikes. I am equally excited about both and can't wait to get started.
Bike Polo is tonight and I can't wait to play. Rant over.

Maybe you should get to know your laws before arguing them

2008-08-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

It feels good to be back in Logan, there is no doubt about it. I don't have more space than I did in my Manhattan apartment right now, due to the fact that I am staying with my brother and his wife in their apartment but I do have my bikes (only my Peuget, Pierre) back and thats what makes me happy.

The silver lining of being home is quickly wearing off as I get back on my bike and I am reminded of the stupidity of some fellow cyclists and motorists as well. Did I really just call some of my fellow cyclists stupid? you bet I just did, and this is why.
I
would first like to start off by commending all those who mount a bicycle daily to commute, exercise, or whatever. It is great that you are making an effort to keep Cache Valley air clean and keep your body looking good, but I am appalled by the lack of knowledge some of you seem to lack on laws about cycling.
You think it is OK to ride your bike the side walk, ride without a light at night, and ride in the opposite lane of traffic. This isn't OK! Stop, please! If there are three things that piss people off about cyclists it is that. A light is $10.00 (or more) at any one of your local bike shops in down town Logan. Please invest in one.

Riding on side walks? Do you really think that any one going 10 mph or more should be on a side walk? Side walks are for walking, roads are for riding. It is the law that you have to ride in the road. I can understand if you don't want to ride on Main St., so take another road to get to your destination. Bikes get in the way when they are ridden on a side walk and you are far likelier to run into a pedestrian. Please follow the law.

I don't know who taught you that you should ride in oncoming traffic. Please unlearn this behavior immediately. It is a good way to get in a head on collision with motor vehicles and other cyclists.

As for motorists, I understand you are pissed off because the above mentioned peons seem to think there behavior is socially acceptable. If you are so angry about bikes in the road why don't you contact your local government about it and stop trying to run us off the road. Killing a cyclist to make a point doesn't drive one home, it makes you look like an idiot and less like the "good law abiding citizen you seem to think you are". You aren't the only one who is affect by high gas prices, we are just doing our part to bring down the cost and help out the atmosphere since your truck isn't. Lets all work together to make the roads safer for everyone. Not just one kind of vehicle.

You may be asking what this rant came about. After reading the article below by the new york times (follow the link to read it), hearing my brother complain about cyclists riding two abreast (which is completely legal!) on country roads, and seeing bike commuters make fools of themselves in the eyes of the law.

I want people to understand that is it as important for cyclists to follow the law as it is for motorists.

This is what really got me going:
¶Last weekend, Utah state police arrested the driver of a pickup truck, suspected of plowing intentionally into cyclists on a morning ride.

Click here for the NY Times article

50 things to love

2008-08-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

I’ve had writters block for the past three months. Everything thing that I write is negative so I decided to help myself over come said block by writing 50 things I love. My friend Misha did this list once and convinced me to do it too (a while ago) I figured it’s time for a new list so here it is. They are in no particular order.

Warm blankets
Herb tea with unfiltered honey
Fuji apples
Farmers Markets
Artisan bread
Moving, even though I hate packing up all mystuff
Good byes and Hello’s when parting for a while and getting home after a long trip
Goals
Jam sessions that go all night
Poetry slams
Dancing
Yoga, even though I hate it, I do it
Climbing, because it’s made me over come so many of my fears
Sleeping under the stars
Countries of the foreign nature
States of the foreign nature
Bicycles
Hill climbing on Kaji
Meeting some one and immediately clicking
Music that makes me feel
Jazz at Citrus and Sage
Listening to guilty pleasure music and knowing that no one knows
The Brooklyn Bridge
Cooking for people and having them love what I cooked
Baking, even though I mostly do it when I am mad
Getting packages and postcards
First Kisses
Last Kisses
Mixed CD’s
New CD’s
Knitting
Quilting
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Listening to Jazz on a rainy day
Reading a good book and being sad when it is over (no, I am not talking about the Twilight series, I haven’t even read those!)
My family
Living in NYC because it made me realize what I want out of life.
Being awoken by a sudden poetic thought and jotting it down for further translation in the morning
Union Square
Mountains and oceans
Hiking in the mountains
Yerba Mate
Genuinely good food
Conversations that stop time
Laughter and Smiles
Japan
Riding my bike through all kinds of weather
Old friends and new friends
Journalism
Ally Cat Races

Track frames and love

2008-07-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

I miss my bikes, Pierre and Kaji. They are my boys who get me from Point A to point B and never let me down. Even through the seemingly endless Logan Winters.
But they aren't here. They stuck in a storage shed in Logan collecting dust because I'm "Not allowed to have a bike in the apartment" here in NY. I've been desperate to ride a bike since I've been here. I see fixed gears and roadies all day long as I walk and subway through the city and want nothing more than to pedal down the roads with the air on my face, watching New York speed past me.
I've been looking online for a fixie to buy when I get back to Logan (and have a job since I can't afford one now). The KHS is pretty sweet, I really like the dementions on it and it's a light bike. The Uno is good (and cheap) and the Redline fixie is pretty cool as well but they all lack something and I realized this week that they all lack personality. Not that your bike needs to be a reflection of you but I don't find these bikes personable to me. So I am building my own. I have found a frame I want (A Pake) and as soon as I have the cash flow I will be buying it along with this sweet Sugino crank set in pink. I won't get a colored chain because I think they are lame but I have been thinking about getting a set of Deep V's. It's up in the air. I have a lot to buy for the bike so the wheel set might have to wait. I will mostly be playing pedi polo with my bike (as well as commuting) so I don't want to get a sweet wheel set only to have them thrashed in pedi polo.
My sweet bike dreams are the only thing keeping me sane right now. Can't wait to get back to Logan.....

Been a long time.....

2008-07-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

I really should get better at this whole blogging bit. I lack motivation to do it in some ways.

Any way, I am still in the Big Apple. Living life and having fun when I can. New York is such an amazing place in so many ways, but it is no place for a girl like me. I miss my mountains, my long bike rides, and familiar faces.
Life here is fast, unforgiving, and what feels like unobtainable at times.
My internship has been good. I now know what I DON'T want to do with the rest of my life which is great! I can eliminate working in PR and stick with writing, cooking, music, bikes, and the great outdoors.
Speaking of cooking...the food here is amazing. I am loving every minute of being able to each such amazing food. Every where I go in New York there is good food. That I will miss when I leave.
I got to see Joshua James play on Monday in the Cutting Room. It felt like being home and made me so happy. I dragged along a girl I work with to it so I wouldn't be alone and drank enough cranberry juice to keep my bladder clean for years. ;) I also discovered a great musician named Amber Rubarth. Check her out. She's got great lyrics and I like her style of music. any way. More when I am not sick and feel like dieing. Seems that the bottom of my stomach has decided to drop out. yay. XOXo

End of the semester, and Ben Folds

2008-04-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Its the end of the semester, an I need to keep my head in the game but with so much going on I feel over committed and like I need to get out of Logan. But I have a series of events that need to happen before leave Logan.

In other news, I got the internship that I wanted with the children's theater company. I will have no money this summer but I will have a good time and a really good experience...I think.

I saw Ben Folds play in concert last night in SLC. It was amazing, everything I have ever wanted and more from seeing him. He played a good mix from his career and included the audience on Narcalepsy and Army which I have always wanted to do. It was fun to hang out with Excaliber and his family. He has the greatest mom. Don't get me wrong, my mom is awesome, but so is his. She came to the Ben Folds concert and stood with us the whole time. The only thing that made me mad was that people in SLC have no concert etiquite. They think that because they showed up late to the show in their AE flip flops and dooney and burke bag they should get to elbow their way to the front. Think again suckers, you deserve to stand in the back because you didn't show up three hours early to get a good standing spot, I DID! So stop pushing and get your ass to the back of the venue. I am writing an article for hardnews about that. any way, I just got off work and I need to use my free meal at the Market place so Im out. but I leave you with a parting picture.

My decloration of only cooking for those who apreciate it

2008-03-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

After a day of pondering my expectations of men, their expectations of me, and where I am going wrong in the relationship process I asked my room mate Annie about my dating life because I am now well aware of what I am looking for but felt that there was something lacking on my part and she said to me "Christy, you spoil the men you date. They are so well taken care of by you that they take advantage of it."
AH-HA!! Thats were I am going wrong. I have been spoiling the men I date with delicious home made soups, brownies, sweet rolls, and other domestic things. These acts of charity and kindness have only led men to take advantage of my good graces and kind spirit, so guess what? I'm done. Yes done. No more home made cookies. No more mending of pants, no more giving of my yarn to unappreciative men. No more sharing of my organic produce with those who could give a damn. It is time that I spend my non existent free time with men who appreciate my talents and don't take advantage of them.
What does this mean to the male population of the universe? Christy's Kitchen is now closed so go eat some others girls refined sugar cookies, soup from a can and pizza from a box because I will no longer be feeding the masses with my preservative free, organic, all natural, mostly vegan cooking. You didn't appreciate it when you had it so now it is gone.
(exceptions will be made on a case by case basis)

Men of planet earth, don't be discouraged by this, be encouraged. All I am saying is that the equal treatment of men in my house has commenced and my cupboards are closed. This is not a statement of " I HATE MEN!" Because we all know that I don't. It is time that men put forth the effort that I do in letting me know they love me. End of story. Leave your comments on my stove for me to burn. XOXO

Billy's Bakery and a new bike

2008-03-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I found myself knitting on the subway down to Billy's Bakery on 23rd and 9 Ave, and by night fall I will in Salt Lake City. Why I decided to come back, I will never know. Well actually I do know, it's because I have responsibilities that I have to uphold and aparently I haven't been beaten into submission enough by the cyclists in Cache Valley for the article I wrote on Alley Cat races. If you too would like to beat me into submission (assuming that any one reads this) here is the link :
http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2008/03/04/news/news01.txt

moving on, I was a bit sad to be leaving the city but my spirits were lifted by two amazing events. First, me "secretly" giving a cupcake from Billy's Bakery to Excalibur and the arrival of a new bike in my living room when I entered. Yes ladies and gentleman, I now own four bikes (two of which are now on the market for any one to buy). This new bike is a white vintage Peugeot, womens specific and I have named him Pierre (he is French, I couldn't resist!) He needs some work done but in a few weeks he will be up and running as my commuter.

The Grants Tomb Crit race in New York was way fun, I didn't do very well but I had a good time and learned a lot from the race so I think that is what matters. It was my first race and I am stoked to do more.

New York; bicycles and bakery's

2008-03-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

So I have a new resolution for the rest of this year, blog once a week. Yes, I Punkin Pants will be blogging once a week from now till the end of the year. If I can stick with it I will blog more.
I am currently in New York City siting in my sisters apartment (and what will soon be mine as well) typing this. Im on springs break so I decided to do the breaking of spring in style and come here to get away from Utah.
I had three goals in mind for coming here.
1.Find and internship
2. Check out the bike shops here.
3. Check out the bakery's of the city.

I got all but one goal ( Im still working on the internship deal) and it has been marvolous. So far my favorite bakerys have been Baby Cakes non gluten, sugar free bakery( more on that) and Billy's Bakery. Both are delicous. Now one may think that Magnolia bakery should be in there but guess what? In my opinion it sucks, not worth your time, and is over rated. If you happen to think it's the greatest thing since fixed gears got hip stop reading my blog and go away.
As far as bike shops I have been really impressed with Pedal Pushers and Bike-Metro. Those are my top two. The guys at Pedal Pushers are old school cyclists and I like that, plus all of their bikes hang from the ceiling which is brilliant. You feel like you are in a bike jungle.

Well NY has been great. I rode the bike I rented from Pedal Pushers for the Grants Tomb Crit on the Hudson River trail. So peaceful and nice, I also met a nice Brit name Luke who was riding the sexiest fixed gear I have ever layed eyes on. Powerder blue italian frame, white walled tires, white bar tape. HOT. but no front break. any way, I have to meet my sister for Thai. XOXO More on NY later.

Alley Cat Races

2008-02-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a while because I often post my thoughts with pen in my journal but today I figured I would write about the Alley Cat races that is happening tonight. am I stoked? you have no idea. In December when I raced I came in D.F.L (thats dead f##king last) but was the only girl who raced so I got kudos for that . This time there will be more girls, and a vast majority of the USU cycling team.
I leave for NY in three weeks, I am pretty excited about that. I am trying to find out about bike events in the Manhattan and surrounding areas while I am there. I want to have some good photos when I come back from spring break. any way, I have to walk home because I didn't bring my bike to campus today. Maybe I can borrow my cousins...hmm....

Thanks and the giving

2007-11-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

I love Thanksgiving because it combines two of my favorite things. Food and being thankful. I am always thinking of things to be thankful for no matter what time of the years it is. For starters, I realized the other day how thankful I am to live in such a beautiful place where I can ride my bike any where. I am thankful daily for my family and my belief in God. It is good to be thankful always and not just at thanksgiving.
I some time feel like the holiday of thanksgiving has been corrupted over the years. We eat food together and then look forward to going shopping the next day with the rest of corporate American. I don't want to go shopping this friday. I want spend my time reflecting at the climbing gym in Colorado and perhaps doing a little slack lining. any way, Im off.

It's been to long

2007-11-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

I haven't bloged in over a month! I've written in my journal but I haven't had the time or energy to blog in a while.
The past month has been good. October was good to me I must admit. I went homeless for a week to see how Ben lives. I took up dumpster diving and bought a membership to the Rock Hause.
I've been trying to climb at least three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday if any one wants to come) to stay in good climbing shape. I go alone to the gym most of the time so I end up only bouldering which I am ok with but when I went on Tuesday I met up with marathon Woman who convinced me to top rope with her. I thought to myself "I haven't top roped in a month. I'll hop on a 10." That 10 schooled me!! Not only physicaly but on my last move to the top I tore open my freshly healed knee. My poort knee is never going to heal! I did two more climbs. One more 10 with an overhang and then a 9. I am not in shape for top roping. Benion was right when he said "When you top rope you fall off the wall because you don't have the strengthe. In bouldering you fall off because you can't do the move." I can do the move, I don't have the strengthe. So I am adding more top ropeing to my regimend.
Halloween was exciting this year. I had a few trick or treaters come by and I went to a killer dance party where I got to ipod DJ the whole night. I had three ipods and a zune (my zune.) to work from. I had a good mix of songs to choose from but still managed to party foul 9 times, Switching songs in the middle of one. Im still new at this! I also dressed up as a woodland nymph this year (aka a fairy) which was fun. my costume cost $15.00. I can't believe people are willing to pay more than that for a damn costume!
Any way. I sold one of my bikes. My yellow colapsable named Sherry. She and I were old friends but she needed to go. I am down to three bikes. I will most likely sell my moutain bike and buy a fixed gear. No I am not a scenester. I just love the fixed gear. I have been riding Kaji a lot lately but have realized that Lazer is better for grocery shopping since he has a basket on the back of him. I wrecked on him early in October and have been scared to ride him since. I'll get over it soon. ;) any way. Im off to do homework.

The ending of a week

2007-09-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

I went camping last night with Spider woman, Matt, Mazy, and Kelli in Logan Canyon. We had a Dutch oven dinner and steaks. Mmm… It was delicious. I wasn’t really digging the steak just because it seemed impossible to chew but besides that it was good.
We shared good conversation and talked about dating, our quarks and why it isn’t nice to call people weird. Annie and I also had a good 15 minute tangent on why it pisses us off that people go to national parks and never get out of their cars to look at the beautiful scenery. It was a ran, let me tell you! It was so nice to get out of Logan and be in the wilderness for a night. We picked a great spot to camp, so good that we didn’t wake up till 9:30. After packing up camp Matt, Annie, and I went back to our apartment and ate German pancakes. Then Annie and I retreated once again to the canyon to do some climbing. Annie muffed her big toe up pretty good and was having a hard time climbing but she belayed me on my first lead climb. It was a 5.7. slightly embarrassing since I top rope 11.A on a good day. But I’ve been to scared to lead till now so I am glad I took that leap of faith and did it.

I’ve got a job now! Working for campsaver.com, the online store for the Trailhead. I am really excited to start. I know it will be a good experience for me to learn more about gear for backpacking, climbing, camping, and pretty much anything outdoors.

This week has been good, if not great. Stressful yes but good. I feel this eternal need to stay focused on school. There is so much to distract me. Some good distractions, some bad. But I know that I MUST put my nose to the grind stone. It is so easy to do the wrong thing when I want to but I need to start doing the right thing.

The living situation with Spider woman is still good. We will see how things change once she isn’t working weekends and we are around each other all the time. Lets hope things stay happy.

Homecoming game tomorrow! The marching band will be playing so come out and see us shake it on the field. My rents are coming into town for day, I am very excited to see them and hang out. I miss my parents a lot when I am not home. I use to hate being around my parents right after I graduated from high school, now I sometimes wish I lived at home because I don’t see them enough.

Well I’m out. XOXO
P.S. I rode Lazer to citrus and sage.

Eggpant caprice, gingersnaps, queen, the mini bike, and geting semi stood up

2007-09-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

I am not known for being on time. Im on time for class, on time for work but never on time for a date, party, movie, or event. My bad habit has caught up with me. I was going to see this famous guitarist play and perhaps write about his performance because My trombone lover had an extra ticket. We were going to meet at 7 in front of the concert hall but I was making eggplant caprice (more on those later) and lost track of time. I realized it was 7 pm as I sat down to eat so I scarfed my food down, took 2 minutes to long to pick out shoes and road Kajii up to campus only to find that my trombone lover had called his room mate to come to the concert so I couldn't go. yay. But thats ok because now I can go to the hip hop dance class instead. But did I mention that I dressed up? I never dress up any more. It's just T-shirt and jeans these days. Non of this fancy business.
So I made eggplant caprice. I've been wanting to make them for ages and I did tonight. only, the recipe needed a little adjusting. I had to add 1 extra table spoon of olive oil and 1/2 table spoon of balsamic viniger. Whats the deal with that?
The two high lights of my day:
I got up and realized that the Baking soda fairy was not coming to save my life so I went out and bought baking soda and realized that I was having a serious Queen attack and needed to buy some Queen. I went to hastings and got a double CD of all of their hits which made me happy. I then went home, rocked out to Queen and baked Gingersnaps.
High light number two was riding Lazer to campus and having a few laughs with Dusty at Quadside cafe where the asshole working the front counter told me he couldn't heat up my beans and rice because I might accuse him of tainting them. WTF? it's beans and rice! what the hell are you going to do them? Crazy baristas, that place has gone down hill since Jonna and I quit. well Im out.

Citrus and Sage Jazz night

2007-09-15T21:47:00.001-07:00

First blog! Oh the excitement. I think people never know what to write on their first blogs so Im writing about where I am. Jazz night at Citrus and Sage hanging out with the wickerman. My day has been long and full of Rugby and climbing.