Bad Blogger

I am a bad blogger, as in, I can't remember the last time I wrote. Things have just seemed to get so busy! First off, I'm trying to toughen myself up for Korea. I've been getting up at 5am every morning to do bows (I'm up to 20!), sit for 45mins (instead of the usual 30) and then go for a bike ride. I'm also on a diet (ugh), the theory being that it is easier to sit with your legs folded up all day if they aren't so big around. So far, it seems to be working. Sitting and bowing are definitely easier. The new bike is a dream. I'm riding around 12 miles 3-4 times a week. My right knee, which gave me a lot of grief during Kyol Che last year, is feeling pretty good. When they say eating right and exercising make you feel better, they ain't talkin' turkey.
The other thing that is keeping me busy is the fact that my brother-in-law had to have surgery (don't worry, he's okay) and is laid up for the next 2-3 weeks. This is a real problem for my sister because he takes care of the kids. I've been going up there once a week so that she can go to work. I'm amazed at now tired I get taking care of two fairly low maintenance children! I came home Tuesday with a splitting headache, took two tylenol and went to bed at 8:30!
One thing that isn't keeping me busy are the grey socks because they are DONE! Hooray, hooray! I'll have pictures in my next post. I also have great pictures from NHS&W. I'll get those up as soon as I can.
Meanwhile, don't forget about my sale coming up. It is going to be my biggest one ever. Next week, I have to make all kinds of drop spindles. I've been handing out coupons for drop spindles like they're candy. If you didn't get one, come by the shop and pick one up!

The Right Equipment Makes the Difference!

You all know that I loooove to ride my bike in the summer. Unfortunately, the last few summers, I've been having a lot of trouble with my bike. No matter how much I adjusted the bike, my back always felt bad. The bike I was riding was a gorgeous Bianci racing bike. This was the bike I'd been wanting my whole life. It was light, it was fast, it was delicious in all ways except one. It was too *&%! big for me! Don't even get me started on the place that sold it to me.
I had suspected it was a bit big for me but never really came to grips with it until Monday. That is when I stoppped in at Quad Cycles in Arlington Heights. Even though I told them I didn't have a cent on me, they talked to me, measured me, measured the bike and talked to me some more. They spent two hours helping me! Now that's customer service! The upshot of the whole thing is that the frame was three centimeters too long for me! It may not seem like much but it is the size bike that someone at least three inches taller than me would ride. No matter what, that bike would always hurt my back.
The Quad Cycle guys fit me to what's called an upright road bike. It has the same wheel size and gearing as my other bike but with the upright handlebars. I am so in love with this new bike. I've been on it every day this week and unlike the other bike, I feel like it is making me stronger rather than weaker when I ride it. I am so happy to have my favorite type of exercise available to me again. I think my butt may actually be shrinking as we speak!

I did not die (or even dye) of boredom!

Sorry for the delay in posting. The last time I posted I was indeed about to expire from boredom. I was saved by Lea who came over, chatted me up and even sang me silly songs!
Since then, I have had a huge party, bought my ticket to Korea and then had a booth at Gore Place Sheepshearing Festival. Phew! It took me most of this week to recover.
Today's big event is the migration of the fish back to their pond at the Zen Center. My friend Kuen came by this morning and picked us all up. She and I cleaned out the pond, got the filter going and put the fish back in. Strangely enough, there were fish that I didn't catch last fall that actually survived the winter in the pond! That's not supposed to happen! Something about toxic gas building up with the pond is frozen over. Well, these aren't just any fish. These are Buddhist fish!
I'm going to miss them. I'm going to empty and clean out the big tank in preparation for next fall. It is good not to have the fish all summer. I'd just have to find someone to take care of them while I was gone and that would be a pain. They are much happier in the pond!


In knitting news, I'm on pair number six of the boring gray socks. That is the sixth and last pair! I'm really looking forward to knitting something with color in it!!