Excerpt from my Journal

I try to write daily in a journal whatever is on my mind. This is Thursday's excerpt.


Wow! What a week so far! There have been all kinds of crazy happenings. I have been pretty productive so far. Other than Monday (it rained) I have ridden my bike to work and back. The ride is less than 10 minutes; recovery however, is another matter all together! I don’t know if it is because of the cold or the extra weight from my backpack, but I am pretty tired by the time I get to where I’m going. One way is just over a mile, so in a day I put in nearly 2.25 miles, not too shabby. Once I get done with some art that I’m working on I might even think about riding for fun in the afternoon. We rode to/around the park and back one Saturday, which was just shy of 6 miles. It was a really nice ride...I think I may do a repeat today!

My kids have been rather perplexed as to why I am riding my bike instead of driving. One of my fourth graders yesterday asked me why it was here, my response: I rode it to work. “Where DO you work, Ms. Alvey?” Seriously. Seriously? I’ve had kids offer me $20 for my bike. Hahahahahahaha Right. Can we put training wheels on it?!?! (Mental picture.) And then of course…how do you get up on that seat? It is up so high! Adults even ask me that question. The only explanation I have, long legs. (I jump.) I’m actually thinking I need to raise it up a little higher. I think that may be the reason my back hurts so much this week.

At home I have been working diligently on a painting I'm trying to finish. I am currently painting the middle panel (which I chose to do last) and then I will add a little green to the rest of them. I still have to figure out where exactly I want the green. Then I have only to sign and varnish. I have also been working on crocheting my friend Brady’s Holiday Garland. She wants it for her Holiday shower coming up at the end of the month. I just hope I can get it all done before then! I will have Spring Break to work on it too, but I know that I will be pretty busy the whole time. I plan on posting pictures of everything once I’ve finished and they have been gifted/opened.

Zach is working on a riding trail behind the old house. It is a really good area for an easy/moderate trail. I hope it is mostly complete, or at least partially complete when I go home for Spring Break. It would be fun to ride without having to actually load up and drive somewhere. Maybe we can even get Mom and Dad out there to ride.

Katie and Bryan and the kids have rented a house on the corner, just down the road from Mom and Dad. They are building a house on Max’s land that should be done in 3 to 4 months. I’m hoping for a mild spring so that it can get done quickly. The house they are renting is a two bedroom; it is a little small for a family of five. Katie said it works out rather well though. The girls are in one room, Alec in the other, they are in the living room.