Yummy Chair

For all you cupcake lovers out there, here is the chair for you! (I can think of at least one cupcake fan...) It comes in different colors - pink, blue and green. Unfortunately it's pretty pricey.

Cool stuff that's useful: I saw in a catalog that Keen now makes an SPD compatible riding sandal! I saw it only in women's sizes, but I have to think they make it for men as well. Could be nice for summer around town rides, maybe even commuting, depending on how well they work. My current Keen sandal soles are so wide they get in the way, especially on my mtn. bike. From past experience I know these probaably won't fit me, so if someone tries them, let us know how they work!

Brian Lopes is going to be riding for Ibis this coming year? Seems like an odd match, I would not have put those two together. Hmmm.

Useless trivia I learned today in the Tribune, although I have only made it through the Q section so far.... a bartender at a bistro on Devon in Chicago is offering the "nicotini" to his customers who smoke, so they don't have to go outside. (Chicago's ban on smoking in bars started this year). The base of the drink has nicotine in it. Also, testing the makeup of the water molecules in your hair gives clues as to what region you live in. This is likely to be helpful in crime investigations.

What a weird weather weekend. Did a little shuffling, er, skiing on Saturday at the end of the day, then went for a ride on Sunday afternoon. Almost, but not really, like being in Colorado where you can ride and play in the snow all in the same day.... The snow was crusty on Saturday so I knew it probably wasn't worth trying to go again Sunday. I saw some mt bike tracks on the trail. Not a bad idea that day, the snow was packed enough. Driving home from the forest preserve I noticed police cars blocking the entrances to Old Orchard. It looked like a reaction to some type of threat situation. Sure enough, I later heard on the radio that the mall closed early due to rumors that were circulating about a suspicious person. Sunday I got sidetracked from going on a ride, and then next thing I knew it was raining. Later the sun came out, then after that it got really gray. Finally I made it out, taking along lights in case I wanted to stay out longer. I really enjoyed being dressed for cold weather, but not feeling cold because it was so warm out! I even forgot my toe heaters and I was still ok. It must have been somewhere between 45-55.

I also went riding last Sunday. I talked to Holly K. on the phone that Sunday afternoon and she had gone riding earlier. I had planned to go to the gym but got inspired to try a ride after talking to her. It was a busier-than-usual week but I did some x-c skiing mid-week under the lights at Gilson. It was the day after a few inches of new snow (Tuesday?), and it was lovely. Bushwhacking was much more fun than staying in people's tracks, I found. Feeling the squish of the new layer of snow on top of the old....nice. Remnants of the flu have been hanging around though, besides a little cough, all I really want to do is sleep. I feel tired all the time and would be happy to just sleep all day. I hope that goes away soon! I have so much to get done and no energy to do it.