I had a lovely (LOVELY) bike ride this afternoon after finishing my chores.  Rode up the High Road and to the footbridge at the causeway.  It was gorgeous getting there, gorgeous actually there, and gorgeous on the way home.

I’m just full of gorgeous….  So, while I’m in this feel-good moment, I thought to have a look at my 2009 To-Do List.  You know, check off some things, see where I’m behind, etc.

• A reliable, used Subaru Outback - preferably with manual transmission.  Truthfully, I don’t want to own a car - I want a bicycle or a horse and buggy (seriously!) - but I live in an area where the nearest place to buy vegetables is a car ride’s distance.
• A bicycle - reliable, used would be okay, something vintage looking with a wicker basket.
• A small house to rent with an organic garden and a washing machine.
• Freelance full-time.
• A laptop.
• An iPod Touch.
• Excellent health for my family, my friends, and myself.
• Pitch at least one article every two weeks.
• Have at least one article published in 2009.
• Sign 6 new writing clients in 2009.
• Sign 4 new bookbinding clients in 2009.
• Organize my office and my studio.  In Progress
• Sell my creations on Etsy.  In Progress
• Sell my creations at a craft fair.
• An Ashford Joy with extra bobbins and travel case.
• Learn to spin flax and weave linen - in other words take a couple classes at the John Campbell Folk School.
• Attend Fiber Frolic, Common Ground Fair, and the Fiber College.
• Master the bodhran.
• Learn to play and sing one folk song a month.
• Fall in love (and be loved in return).

Yep, you heard it right - I have transportation…. with actual wheels on it… No hoofing it for this girl anymore.  Behold my vehicle:

Twenty-four gears and two wheels of pure leg power!  I’ve even souped it up with brakes, reflectors, lights, a basket, and rear wheel rack!  Oh yeah, baby, I’m riding in style!  And the best part of all is that I’ve bartered for it - trading computer help desk services with the bike shop for the bike.

It’s been almost 15 years since I rode a bike, so I’m relearning to ride again.  What amazes me is that I used to be fearless on my bike.  Now I’m full of fear.  Seriously.  I was practicing in the bank parking lot riding in circles and the first time I approached a turn I had to talk myself through it.  When did I become such a coward?  Of course, after that I was fine with turns - but appalled by my fear.  I really don’t understand it, but I know it goes beyond the bike.  I’ve been fearful in other situations recently and just pushed forward, but it’s been over big existential stuff.  This is bicycle riding….. what is there to be scared of?  This is freedom…

Today as I was walking home from one of my jobs, I heard birds. A cacophony of birds calling to one another. One’s voice rose over all of the others - wheeeeep-wheep, wheeeeep-wheep.  He sounded like he was in the tree above me calling to his mate as if to say, “hon, I found the perfect spot to build the condo!”  Never heard her answer, though - perhaps she was skeptical and didn’t want to take the first branch offered to them.

One thing that became apparent to me was that there was an underlying “busyness.”  I can’t offer any concrete, eyewitness testimony to this - it was a sense.  It felt like nature had ceased to be still, and unbeknownst to the the casual onlooker was making the behind-the-scenes preparations for spring.  I swear I could hear the heartbeat-like rhythm of tree sap making its way skyward and the creaking of tree branches stretching after a long winters nap. This is exciting!  There is still snow and ice on the ground, but I think spring is getting ready to, … well…. , spring.

Oh, how I wish it were spring!  But it’s not and, up here where I live, won’t be for at least another month and a half.  So what is one to do?

1. Unleash your inner activist.  Pack away all of your winter clothes - all of them - in a public act of defiance.  This says to winter, “screw you!”  However, winter usually gets the last laugh by giving you frostbite, so this is only recommended for the most dedicated protester.
2. Reminisce about the glory days of summer from years past.  Pull out those scrapbooks, gather your kin about you, fire up the pellet stove, and start sharing the memories.   Hot chocolate and marshmallows are optional.
3. Therapeutic baking.  Let’s face it, once summer is here you won’t want to go near the stove.  Now is the time to bake!  Use chocolate!  Share with family and friends.  Bake a lot, bake often.  The added benefit is extra body insulation against the cold.  Plus the sugar high will help you weather the winter blues.
4. List all the things you are going to do when the weather warms up - puttering in the garden, hiking, sailing, spelunking, swimming, walking, long rides on your bicycle, etc.  Take that pencil to paper and write it all down.  Draw pictures of yourself doing these activities under the hot sun.  Don’t forget to draw yourself drenched in sweat and dehydrated.  Oh, and don’t forget the thought bubble above your head dated August whatever, depicting you at home on the couch, drinking something cool and wishing for an early autumn!

We have a new president, a new administration, and if they haven’t already fully moved all their stuff into the White House, they have moved into the Web House!  This has been such a wonderful day - I’m still a little dazed by it all.  We as a nation, a community, and as individuals have a hard and long road ahead of us, but we have a leader with a plan now.  We can do this.