Riding in the country

I really do love riding my bike in this area of Nebraska...the people are friendly, there isn't a lot of traffic, the sky is incredibly blue, and I've got miles and miles of paved country roads. This first picture is of a nice little cornfield just off of Banner Road.


This is just a shot of Banner Road...lots of open road without much traffic. It is usually windy on this road, though, so it's not my favorite place to ride here.

Welcome Home!

Back in the USA, and loving it. Yep, it's summer, and that means a bit of freedom from work and the congestion and noise of Taipei. Looks like a good storm may be brewing in the west, along with really ferocious wind, so probably no bike ride this morning. Got the tires aired up, the chain lubed, and the tiny bit of dust wiped off the bike, though, so it is ready to roll. And right now I finally feel like hopping on the bike and going for at least a 20 mile ride. I've been fighting a bit of non-motivation these past few weeks in Taipei, so it's nice to have the desire again.

So, what shall I do today? I unpacked yesterday, organized my sewing and biking things in the the closets and furniture Russ made for me, and enjoyed a nice long nap. Oh yeah, and visited with mom and dad for just a bit. Will head over there again sometime today. It's so very nice to have them just two houses away from us. So today...maybe read and watch tv. Yep, sounds like a good plan to me.

ROC'n Jerseys

This photo shows five of us in Taiwan wearing Randonneurs of China cycling t-shirts. They are definitely eye-catching, especially here. Yep, they even come with a rendition of the Chinese flag on the back. A guy hollered at Meredith and her group when they returned to their apartment building to NOT wear the Chinese flag. Hmmm, seems some Taiwanese folks still don't like China. I may yet cover up the flag on my t-shirt, since I'm not too fond of China's politics and policies myself. Uh oh, I mentioned Taiwan and China in the same post...will this blog now self-destruct???

Take a Kid Biking Day

A couple of guys who rode regularly with Dave Wittry decided to put together this ride as a memorial and fund-raiser for his family. It was a beautiful day in which to ride, and about 30 people showed up, including plenty of kids. Dave's wife Jody, and his two children were also in attendance. The ride went from Guandu to Tanshui and back again, not a great distance, but plenty for all the kids. The first photo is of all the riders.



This next photo is of me leading a new friend, Tru, back to Guandu.

Early AM...Apparently Not

I have to laugh...I set my alarm clock every night to go off at 4:30 am. And every morning before the appointed hour, I reset it to 5:30. So, that's it. I guess I am no longer an early morning rider. Why fight it?

I did leave school early yesterday...just a bit after 3:00...and enjoyed a very windy 22 mile ride. Was quite nice, I knew the wind was howling...just decided I needed to get out anyway. The only fly in the ointment was the heinous traffic on the roads once I got off the bike path to make my way to my apartment. Buses, cars, scooters...so many folks out on the roads. And so many of them breaking all manner of traffic laws.

Bring on that old highway in Nebraska where I may see half a dozen cars if I'm lucky. I can head out my door and if the traffic is really light, not have to get off my bike until I roll back into my driveway 20 miles later.

Motivation, or Lack Of

It rained a bunch here on Saturday, and I was actually glad, because I didn't feel like going out for a bike ride. Sunday was a decent day, although the relentless wind was once again howling. I could have easily ridden in it because the temp was fantastic. So what did I do? I very deliberately chose to remain indoors, except for when I walked over to school in the morning and evening to make sure the darn guinea pig had food and water.

It felt good to play hooky from the bike. It felt good to vegetate and watch far too much tv and eat too much junk food. This morning when I got up, I was ready to ride. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time before school, and I stayed too long at school this afternoon to get in a ride. Tomorrow? Who knows? I have decided to NOT ride with the gals who go at 5:00 am because they will head up to Rifle Range, and I know I'm not ready for that yet. I should get up at 4:30, head out the door by 4:45 and ride a flat route for an hour. I should do that, but I'm not sure I will.

This Sunday will be a very short riding day for me because it is "Take a Kid Biking Day" in honor of our fallen colleague, Dave W. I'll go from here to Guandu, then see what I can do to help the organizers, so mileage shouldn't be over 15 miles. This should be a good day, although I am very sorry we have a need for it.

Playing with Poetry

One friend and I have had recent conversations about the state of our psyches. These two poems (kind of) describe mine. Which one will I be tomorrow?

The View

Lenses are grey
Diffusing my soul
Frustration grows
Daily
Weekly
Year by year
Till the lenses darken
To a deadly dull
Emptiness
Hopelessness
Lifelessness
Pack it all in
Let there be
No more tomorrows
No more light
No more no more no more.


The View

Lenses are rose
Uplifting my soul
Joy grows
Daily
Weekly
Year by year
Till the lenses brighten
To amazing
Exuberance
Delight
Laughter
Open it all up
Let there be
Tomorrows
Light
More more more.

A Good Friend

One of my good teacher friends was so upset over something yesterday that she couldn't even talk about it. That's the way it is sometimes at our school. I wonder if it will be the same for me in the states in two or three years. If I am able to get a job in my area, and it ends up being half as stressful as here, I am getting out of the classroom and going to work at a factory. I'm tired of always thinking. Even during vacations, I think about what to do in the classroom. Yikes, it just never stops.

Why do we do it? For the money, of course. (all teachers will get the sarcasm) No, wait, it's not just about the salary. We do it to see the light in kids' eyes every once in awhile when they "get" a new math concept. Or when they get their hands on some Oobleck or dry ice and have a blast with experiments. Or when their writing turns out to be exemplary. Or when a formerly quiet as a mouse student has a breakthrough and starts talking loudly enough to need to be shushed. Or when ESL students soar. Or when confidence blooms. Or when they actually get my witticisms. (Third graders probably won't get my jokes)

So to my friend, I say, "I'm here when and if you are ready to talk about it."

Sleepless in Taipei

Hmph, for the third night this week, I'm wide awake far too early. One night it was 1:00 am, another 1:30, today I woke up at 2:30 am. Wide awake. Not the awake that just gets you to the bathroom and then back to sleep right away. Nope, this is a full-blown attack of stress and worries about upcoming events at school that are keeping me from my beauty sleep.

First it was sleeplessness over who was going to make the 5th grade recognition concert DVD. Once I decided that I would do it, with Greg's and Dan's help, one less stressor was out of the way. Or so I thought. I booked the projector and DVD player, but now am thinking about the actual event night. Who will run the DVD player and projector? Who will make sure the screen is down? Will the DVD run properly? Dan will burn the DVD on Monday, make copies, and I will test it on my computer. I'll ask Greg to work the projector and DVD player. I'll run up backstage and work the screen. OK, problems solved. Go back to bed. Guess not, I'm still wide awake.

This really is a big night. We have all 180 5th graders, as well as their parents, music teachers, and us 5th grade teachers together for the event, so I don't want any glitches. I'm envisioning my photos being grainy, fuzzy, or semi-out of focus on the big screen. Why? I guess because I take after my maternal grandmother, and worry about all kinds of little things. For some reason, I often imagine the worst.

But maybe that's not a bad thing, because it means I do prepare in advance for most really important things. Which is why for the first time in the five years I've been in 5th grade, the DVD will be finished four days early, instead of the day of. Or in last year's case, minutes before. (Thank you Dan and Greg!!!)

Best thing...no more worries after this year for this event, since I'll no longer be in 5th grade. Third grade, here I come!