mellow yellow

I sold this bike:

It was the first big-purchase I ever made, seeing as I spent the entirety of my sixth-grade graduation money on this bike. It was a huge disappointment though, because the bike I ordered was Army Green and this one was Fire Engine Red. I was too excited to wait for the right one to be shipped in, so I said ok to red. That was a decision I regretted for the next decade or so. It was a good bike for Delaware, the Valley, etc., and the places I used to ride with my dad while he ran.

During the period in York where I was bored/crafty and bored/painted-everything-yellow, I made over this bike:
(I forgot to take a before picture)


My family vacationed most summers at Ocean City, NJ, and those vacations always included early-morning bike-rides on the boardwalk. One year, my mom really fell in love with the boardwalk biking and my dad bought her this bike so she could ride all year long. She didn't really ride that much, so let me make it over from blue to banana while in York. It is a better bike for city-riding than my old mountain bike. I broke it in yesterday riding to Staples, and today riding to T-Mobile/all along the Lake.

The other bike will always have better memories,
but this one is so much prettier.
Biking in Chicago is a new kind of stressful,
but someone always hammered into my head to look both ways.

not a romance for the road

After 6 years of trying, I finally got to see Dar Williams. I went with Jenny to see her at the Strand in York a week or two ago. The songs I remember from her set list:

1. Are You Out There?: I used to have this song on a mix tape and I was used to hearing an RX Bandits song afterwards. This was one I have probably heard a thousand times, so I might have cried.
2. Calling the Moon: She played this early on and it gave me a good feeling for the rest of the set. This song reminds me of a weekend in Maine and it was great & pretty.
3. After All: Weird people sitting near us aggressively requested this, so she played it.
4. Road Buddy: The guy next to me requested it and that made me like it. This song reminds me of driving in New England with Gigl when she was a baby.
5. Fly Away: About becoming a parent. So pretty and sad and LONG. Jenny said it would be a pretty song for a baptism.
6. Mercy of the Fallen
7. The Babysitter's Here
8. Spring Street: I forgot how much I loved this song.
9. Beauty of the Rain
10. You're Aging Well: This is one of my all time and initial favorites, and I was excited for Jenny to hear it because it seems her flavor.
11. If I Wrote You: I cried.
12. What Do You Hear in These Sounds?: A song about therapy that isn't depressing or weird is a pretty baller feat

westward bound

Highlights from Colorado holidays:


Eagle, CO--Jeff & Molly's town.


Bambified.


SKIING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. I am my brother's sister after all.


Fireworks at Beaver Creek on New Year's Eve.


RED ROCKS.


On the way to the airport, we stopped at the outlets at Silverthorne and stopped at a Chinese restaurant that had my favorite ladies room ever.


Apparently, United bought Oceanic.

ring king

I've never been way into jewelry unless it's permanentally implanted, but I am when it is yellow and/or has a little meaning to it. So the other night my mom gave me this ring:

The topaz/gold glory belonged to my great-grandfather and my dad used to like to wear it on dress-up occassions. And now it belongs to me, and I will wear it for all occasions. I do love me some men's jewelry.

seamstress patch

Some girls scout fairies descended upon my PicnicPack and gave me patches that I didn't earn, but do deserve. In another life, they belonged to my mama.

on the road again

Highlights from the June travels:

New York

the biggest piece of pizza ever for only $2!


of all the upper west side's millions of statues, this was the best.



Wescher's Currywurst! This is where I worked in New York, but I left the city before the restaurant actually opened, so this was the first time I got to see the baby all grown up.

Colorado

This day Jeff led a group of about 60 volunteers to work on trailbuilding and nature maintainence.


cheyenne my parrot friend


this river is wild


teva games

Mass.


Father's Day morning on West Beach :(


the Bali Hai=my favorite Chineses in the world


the view from Marissa's deck


FIZZMAN


thanks to mapquest + the george washington bridge

TN

This time last week I was driving home from Tennessee with mama & Jenny. We went for Erin's wedding:



On the way down, we stopped at the amusement park of truck stops, complete with life-size stuffed children hanging from the ceiling



Also, we stopped in some southern state at a Chinese buffet that was in a shopping center with a walmart. During our 3 am dinner, I got this rando text: Do not go to ay walmart tonight. Gang initiation to shoot 3 women Not sure which walmart. Not sure which walmart. And confirmed on tv. fwd to all girls. My brother-in-law the fed said it was a hoax, but there were cops parked all shady style outside.

On the way home, we stopped at the Appalachian Trail and I bought a tee shirt and magnet with my initials.

Hopefully I'll be making the long drive to TN again next month to see Trey.
Third Roo's a charm.

top papa pix

some of my favorite pictures from the memorial service slideshow that Jeff & I compiled:

my famous brother

jeff was in the paper with his dogs.


jeffy