meikejne

Oh that’s so disappointing!

Cor, sure would feel great right now if we were self-sufficient in renewable energy, and laughing at all the rubes reliant on global oil supplies. We'd have a bit of a swagger in our step today.

When all the other time travelers are busy killing Hitler, I’m gonna take out Laura Ingalls Wilder.

First family ride highlighted some gaps that I need to fill—and my first topple, courtesy of my clips. First up: a kickstand and a mirror.

Absolutely going to flip the handlebar bracket back though. My shoulders are not sold.

I did not fall to pieces during the sesh, which was a relief. Absolutely loved it: a group of 9 of us, surrounded by bikes, doing some power vinyasa.

It was apparently as peaceful I needed: at the end during shavasana, my heart rate dropped to 49 bpm.

On deck today: a family ride in the spring sun

A closeup of the pepper logo on a Salsa Journeyer

The color changes so much (see: still not a photog) but I also adore the little pepper on the front

Tomorrow will be focused on making the handlebar adjustment and then taking her for a 10+ mile ride to begin to take stock.

Exciting times!

Eventually I plan on getting a dynamo, but immediate needs will be fenders, kickstand, a couple of water bottle cages, and probably a small post bag for my mechanics. I’ll be transferring my current lights over and possibly my rear rack.

A light green Salsa Journeyer against a wall painted an autumnal shade of orange.

I’m the opposite of a photog so you’ll have to forgive me for how basic this looks but, here she is! Pivoted to the 51” Salsa Journeyer from the 52” Specialized Allez. At the shop we flipped the handlebar post and I think I need to flip it back. Full fitting TBD but solid enough to begin.

I didn’t expect the loss of my cat to hit me as hard as it has today. My eyes actually ache.

Tomorrow will begin with yoga at my LBS. Just hoping I don’t fall to pieces in the middle of it

I have apparently 636 photos in the auto-found classification used by my albums to identify Kitty Boy so you have now been subscribed to photos of him until I stop sharing them ENJOY

An orange and white cat in a desk sleeping with his head pressed into a laptop on a stand

September 2007 - March 2026

I’ll miss you forever

An old orange and white tom sleeping on a loom-wove rug in the early morning hours with the dim light from another room spilling across him

On this, the day we take him to the vet to see if it’s time for us to say goodbye, he emerges from his hiding place underneath my side of the bed and instead occupies the rug my grandmother made beneath my desk, where normally he’d be atop it, participating in meetings

What my work looks like on the ground! Though usually with more shirts 🤷🏻‍♀️

So many going back and forth online on whether to euthanize or let nature run its course. So hard to know what the right call is. I still don’t know what we’ll do.

10 knows he’s declining, but he’s going to break when I tell him. I almost did on the phone with the vet.

My grumpy old man kitty is still not doing well. I made an appointment for tomorrow but, I think it’s pretty clear. He’s 18+, hiding under the bed since Sunday night, turned away from offered food, barely getting up to get water, and I nearly thought he was unresponsive earlier.

Another day another horror

Fenders are gonna be a must though because even roads get wet. Not planning on off-roading with this per se but light gravel will be needed (see: Indiana roads). They don’t have to be great but I want /something/. I also want a dynamo but will use my current gear for now

Honestly this is where I’ve settled for now. I dream of touring and going camping and all those things, but I also recognize that my family is not at that same point 😅 so I’m compromising by being able to take day trips and ride for myself and eventually think through getting something else.

Anyway can’t wait to hear critique on this, but mostly can’t wait to get out there and just ride. These false spring starts are genuinely becoming painful to watch without a proper bike at hand

Solid pros: it made me want to immediately get out and ride; I adore the local shop; I’m buying locally; I know they’ll continue to have parts; it will help me accomplish my goal later this summer while still being a good family/weekend rider; it’s under my budget

However, I’ve otherwise been letting perfect be the enemy of good during this process. I’ve told myself I can get something that fits my other use cases when future!me actually has them instead of just imagining them (eg planning a real tour).

Initial cons: the forks can only accommodate 35s w/o fenders per specs (I want fenders). I know @behindthebluemotel.com might have something to say about that. It also has no front rack mount, which may annoy me later.

It also has a more classic diamond shape & I’m unused to climbing over it

Okay chat, I think I’ve decided on the 52” Specialized Allez Tiagra. I’m going to try it out again before buying now that I could actually take it for a spin outside, but even with minimal adjustments it already feels miles better than my current ride.

Baby’s first disc brakes, first non-flat bar—

Third day in a row. Coupled with sudden onset insomnia, this week is off to a great start

Still aiming to get to my HIIT class today, but I might end up just riding instead. Every mile counts in the lead up.

Just making sure you unmuted this

A dim, blurry shot of an indistinct person underneath a bed with an orange and white (maybe) cat

You leave me no choice, my love

An old orange and white cat laying majestically underneath a bed on carpet. He’s looking off into the distance on the left.

I’ve gotten him to purr, but he doesn’t want to leave from under the bed. I even tried to gently lift him and guide him out so we could cuddle, and he just resisted and looked annoyed, as if to say, “This is where I want to be and you want me to move?”

😢 I have a feeling, my friends.

When your child has been just an absolute handful of a nightmare lately, & they crawl into bed with you for the second night in a row at 4:30a, & you don’t have your first meeting until 9, it’s probably best to just let them sleep

Meanwhile you woke up at 5:30 & 2hrs later the coffee has yet to hit