75F and Sunny. Easy Come Easy Go

We began our week's commute thus: Slowly and gradually things warmed up. This weekend the glass was half full here in the heartland. Whereas Monday I was wondering how I was going to make it a whole 3 more months until I got to go home, by Sunday I was glad to be here. It is amazing how a little thing like weather can so affect one's outlook on life.

Saturday morning we left at 8:30 am on our bikes with a promise of temps in the upper 50s and did not get home until 8:30 at night. We spent the day participating in very urbane sorts of activities. After a parent/teacher conference at Owen's school we rode around town doing errands: art store for b-day party gift, REI, Whole Foods for lunch. After dropping our booty off at the house we rode the length of Forest Park, something Tony had never done before, and then took the train from the Central West End into down town to check out the Home and Garden Show. Very anti-climatic. It was more a consumerism nightmare than anything else. I figured it would be all earthy and crunchy, a real tree-hugger's destination. Instead it was Ginzu knives and earth movers and 40K terrariums. It was held at the indoor football arena and was packed with vendors and buyers. Yikes. With all the walking, we did manage to work up an appetite and ate at the best Japanese restaurant I've experienced to date.

Sunday was a day of hot weather and riding around while Owen attended a birthday party. I was hoping it would last. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

Forecast for Monday and rest of week? Winter snow mix with chance of 6 inch accumulation over night. Now the cup is back to half empty.

Committed, as it pertains to commuting.

Commit, according to http://www.dictionary.com/: #4. to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance As in, "I am a committed cycling commuter and I feel good."

or is it....
#8. to place in a mental institution or hospital by or as if by legal authority As in, "She ought to be committed, dragging her kid around like that in this downpour!"

When we came back to St Louis we decided that we would commit ourselves to weekday travel via any means other than our car; our options being mt. bike, scooter, feet, tandem, train. So far, being committed does not feel too challenging. It is only September, which feels like July in Idaho, except for the humidity and possibility of copious quantities of rain. Our daily commute to school is a minimum of 6 miles on bike per day for Owen and 20 for me. I ride home from his school and save myself the $2 train ticket. With all the other places I went, last week I managed 135 miles on my mountain bike...and we played hooky from school one day since cousin Alaina was in town.....and I picked Owen up in the car one afternoon because I was babysitting baby Lilly. This week I had to go out of town 2 days so I won't be breaking my record and will be lucky to get much over 100 miles.

The thing is, it does not feel like a big deal. In fact it greatly reduces a number of stresses in my life. I am a nut case in traffic jams and the drive to Owen's school is the worst, due to construction. I don't have to stress about not getting exercise because it is exercise; although it lacks the drudgery of exercise. It gives my day a rhythm it is sorely lacking without employment. Plus I spend a lot less money. Train tickets to school are running us about $30/wk. This is equivalent to what I would spend on gas if I ONLY drove to and from school. But when I am behind the wheel of a car I am likely to get distracted and pull into a coffee shop, Wild Oats, the bookstore or any other place that wants to separate me from my cash.

Will we continue through the winter? I say yes and Owen says no. "There is no bad weather, just bad clothing choices.", I tell him. It remains to be seen, I suppose.
Commuting to the climbing gym