Hello, friends!
Friends, I have some really bad news... sometime between 2-6pm on Wednesday, Sulu was stolen... I don't know where he is but I really want him back. Here's what happened:
Our story actually starts on Tuesday. The plan was for me hang out with a student @ 5, go to dinner with some other students @ 6, and then have another meeting with students @ 7. It was going to be a tight fit but I was going to make it!
Well, maybe not. =0). My 5pm was a 30 second ride from my house so I biked there with the intention of biking downtown to my 6 then back up home for my 7. The thing was that I was meeting with a female student and my rule is that if I am meeting with a female student, we are either meeting in a public space or all the doors in the room are open. I thought her roommate was going to be there but it turned out that she wasn't. It was 95 degrees outside so instead of overworking her air conditioning, we decided to walk back to my place.
After that, time just got in the way. I wanted to leave right away so I left Sulu on the front porch and didn't lock it so I could just rock and roll. My 5pm ran a little long and my 6pm actually got canceled but I had to pick up a student for the 7pm, which means that Sulu was left on the porch for a few hours. Thankfully, no one took him during that time. Unfortunately, it also means that I completely forgot that he was on the porch and not in the garage like normal.
What we know is that Megan and I both saw Sulu @ 11am when we left the house. What is unclear is if we was still there when we returned. I think he was but I can't say for sure. What I can say for sure is that at 5:45 I left for Wednesday Night Large Group. I realized I forgot something at home so I returned @ 5:48. When I rolled back up to the house, I saw my bike lock on the ground alongside my helmet. Sulu was nowhere to be found.
I have filed the police report and am hopeful that he will be returned. But until then, I am not sure what is going to happen with me riding to campus and what is going to happen to this blog.
Honestly, I'm not sure what bothers me more. On the one hand, I am pissed because someone stole my bike. Every time this happens (I've had 3 bikes stolen now, one twice), it sucks. On the other hand, I am pissed at myself for not locking up Sulu. It would have been so simple but I just blew it. The blame is on me as much as it is on the jerk who took him.
One last piece that really bothers me is that I really wanted to finish this blog. This blog has been so much fun to write and it's been really motivating too. I hope and pray that the bike is recovered.
Anyway, happy biking! Here's hoping you hear from me (and Sulu) again...
~Adam
The story of a guy trying to rationalize the money he spent on his bike and other random thoughts.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The Great Read Begins Again...
Hello, friends!
Ever since I joined InterVarsity, I've adjusted my calendar so that for me, the new year actually starts on July 1 instead of January 1 to match the InterVarsity fiscal calendar. I know, it's odd of me, but that's how things go.
Because of this every July I set my goals for the year. I talk about what I want to see happen on campus and things like that. One section of my goals is for personal goals, which usually have to do with physical, relational, and mental health. (One of my favorites from a few years ago was when my goal was to "get a girlfriend."). One goal that I've had for the past few years has been to read 30 books, as a way for me to keep myself motivated to read. A few years ago I hit that goal but last year I fell WAY short. Right now, it's already 2 months into the year and I've only read 2 books. Things are not starting well.
As I was thinking back on why I reached the goal the time that I did and I didn't the time that I didn't was that last year I wasn't actually keeping track of my books read (I lost count a few times) and I wasn't actually recalling what I was reading. The year that I totally nailed it was when I blogged (or rather, Facebook posted) about my books. It led to some interesting conversations and motivated me to read more.
So, in an attempt to get back on the horse, I've decided to start blogging about my books again. With any luck, this will lead to more reading. At worse, you'll still get to see my biking stats at the end. =0).
Why this blog and not my other one? Well, honestly, there are two major reasons. One is because of space. So much happens on the other blog that trying to fit some book reviews in there would only make things more crowded. Especially with the new school year and new roles and such, it made more sense to move the reading here.
Added to that, I think I like the idea of pairing physical health with mental (or academic) health. I bike not just because it is more efficient or good for the environment but also because it is good for me. It burns calories and improves my stamina. Biking also lets me focus on other areas of my triathlon training when I go to the gym. Reading is one of those things that keeps me sane. I read how-to books, biographies, fiction, non-fiction, etc., and all of it stimulates my brain and offers a chance to relax a little.
So, while this blog is still about my pursuit of miles and meter money, occasionally you'll see a blurb or two about something that I've read. Don't be alarmed, you're still at the right blog. =0).
Stats:
Distance: 8.98 miles ($.87)
Meters: 4 hours on campus ($4) + 4 hours downtown ($2.40)
Total: $7.27
Grand Total: $381.89
Left to Save: $201.14
I'll see you next time!
~Adam
Ever since I joined InterVarsity, I've adjusted my calendar so that for me, the new year actually starts on July 1 instead of January 1 to match the InterVarsity fiscal calendar. I know, it's odd of me, but that's how things go.
Because of this every July I set my goals for the year. I talk about what I want to see happen on campus and things like that. One section of my goals is for personal goals, which usually have to do with physical, relational, and mental health. (One of my favorites from a few years ago was when my goal was to "get a girlfriend."). One goal that I've had for the past few years has been to read 30 books, as a way for me to keep myself motivated to read. A few years ago I hit that goal but last year I fell WAY short. Right now, it's already 2 months into the year and I've only read 2 books. Things are not starting well.
As I was thinking back on why I reached the goal the time that I did and I didn't the time that I didn't was that last year I wasn't actually keeping track of my books read (I lost count a few times) and I wasn't actually recalling what I was reading. The year that I totally nailed it was when I blogged (or rather, Facebook posted) about my books. It led to some interesting conversations and motivated me to read more.
So, in an attempt to get back on the horse, I've decided to start blogging about my books again. With any luck, this will lead to more reading. At worse, you'll still get to see my biking stats at the end. =0).
Why this blog and not my other one? Well, honestly, there are two major reasons. One is because of space. So much happens on the other blog that trying to fit some book reviews in there would only make things more crowded. Especially with the new school year and new roles and such, it made more sense to move the reading here.
Added to that, I think I like the idea of pairing physical health with mental (or academic) health. I bike not just because it is more efficient or good for the environment but also because it is good for me. It burns calories and improves my stamina. Biking also lets me focus on other areas of my triathlon training when I go to the gym. Reading is one of those things that keeps me sane. I read how-to books, biographies, fiction, non-fiction, etc., and all of it stimulates my brain and offers a chance to relax a little.
So, while this blog is still about my pursuit of miles and meter money, occasionally you'll see a blurb or two about something that I've read. Don't be alarmed, you're still at the right blog. =0).
Stats:
Distance: 8.98 miles ($.87)
Meters: 4 hours on campus ($4) + 4 hours downtown ($2.40)
Total: $7.27
Grand Total: $381.89
Left to Save: $201.14
I'll see you next time!
~Adam
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
A New Way Home...
Hello, friends!
I have a funny story to tell you, and by funny I mean "shake your head" funny and not "laugh out loud" funny.
We're in the middle of New Student Outreach right now, which means long days and even longer nights. Today I was on campus until about 9:30, which meant biking home in the dark. (It also meant lots of hours saving money on meters, but that's for a little later).
The route that I take home is pretty much the same route every time. I bike up Hitt Street, turn right on University, make a left on college, then a right on Walnut, cut through Stephens College (thanks, ladies!) make a right on Widsor, a left on Ripley, a right on Hinkson, a left on William, a right on Amelia, a left on Mount Vernon, and BAM! I'm home. (In case that wasn't confusing enough, here's the map).
Overall, it's a bunch of side streets and a pretty safe ride. The one stretch that is the most dangerous is going north on College avenue. It's a pretty busy street with lots of cars traveling at pretty decent speeds. Bikers, and some pedestrians have gotten hit along that road for as long as I can remember.
As I was biking up the street tonight, thinking thoughts and such, I heard the unmistakable sound of something falling out of my bag. I had my gym bag strapped to the back of my bike and I must have left it a little bit open because something definitely hit the street.
Friends, it was decision time. What do I do? I sounded like plastic so it was probably one of two things. Either it was my almost empty shampoo bottle, in which case I could leave it without a second thought, save for a guilty conscience for littering, or it was my pair of swim goggles, which cost me $15 and would require another trip to the store to buy a new pair. I couldn't risk losing the goggles so I had to pull over and run back to pick up what I dropped.
It was the shampoo bottle...
Slightly relieved that the goggles weren't broken and slightly miffed that I had to stop for a bottle of shampoo, I hopped back on Sulu and rode the rest of the way. There, my wonderful wife had just arrived home and was unloading the car.
Funny thing... she was on college the same time I was, so she saw me pull over and run back for my lost shampoo bottle. Needless to say, she was less that pleased.
As my way of showing my love for her and taking her concern into consideration, I will be taking a different, safer but longer, route back home after the sun goes down. I haven't figured out what that route is yet but I suppose it makes sense. Sulu getting crushed by a car seems like the sort of thing that would make this blog a little bit useless. =0).
Stats:
Distance: 10.8 miles ($1.00)
Meters: 12 hours on campus ($12) + 2 hours downtown ($1.20)
Total: $14.20
Grand Total: $374.62
Left to Save: $208.41
Happy Biking!
~Adam
I have a funny story to tell you, and by funny I mean "shake your head" funny and not "laugh out loud" funny.
We're in the middle of New Student Outreach right now, which means long days and even longer nights. Today I was on campus until about 9:30, which meant biking home in the dark. (It also meant lots of hours saving money on meters, but that's for a little later).
The route that I take home is pretty much the same route every time. I bike up Hitt Street, turn right on University, make a left on college, then a right on Walnut, cut through Stephens College (thanks, ladies!) make a right on Widsor, a left on Ripley, a right on Hinkson, a left on William, a right on Amelia, a left on Mount Vernon, and BAM! I'm home. (In case that wasn't confusing enough, here's the map).
Overall, it's a bunch of side streets and a pretty safe ride. The one stretch that is the most dangerous is going north on College avenue. It's a pretty busy street with lots of cars traveling at pretty decent speeds. Bikers, and some pedestrians have gotten hit along that road for as long as I can remember.
As I was biking up the street tonight, thinking thoughts and such, I heard the unmistakable sound of something falling out of my bag. I had my gym bag strapped to the back of my bike and I must have left it a little bit open because something definitely hit the street.
Friends, it was decision time. What do I do? I sounded like plastic so it was probably one of two things. Either it was my almost empty shampoo bottle, in which case I could leave it without a second thought, save for a guilty conscience for littering, or it was my pair of swim goggles, which cost me $15 and would require another trip to the store to buy a new pair. I couldn't risk losing the goggles so I had to pull over and run back to pick up what I dropped.
It was the shampoo bottle...
Slightly relieved that the goggles weren't broken and slightly miffed that I had to stop for a bottle of shampoo, I hopped back on Sulu and rode the rest of the way. There, my wonderful wife had just arrived home and was unloading the car.
Funny thing... she was on college the same time I was, so she saw me pull over and run back for my lost shampoo bottle. Needless to say, she was less that pleased.
As my way of showing my love for her and taking her concern into consideration, I will be taking a different, safer but longer, route back home after the sun goes down. I haven't figured out what that route is yet but I suppose it makes sense. Sulu getting crushed by a car seems like the sort of thing that would make this blog a little bit useless. =0).
Stats:
Distance: 10.8 miles ($1.00)
Meters: 12 hours on campus ($12) + 2 hours downtown ($1.20)
Total: $14.20
Grand Total: $374.62
Left to Save: $208.41
Happy Biking!
~Adam
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Time to Think...
Hello, friends!
It's been a relatively light few days from a biking standpoint but that won't get me down. We still logged a few miles and saved some cash by parking on campus. You know how much I love saving money. =0).
As I was riding to campus the other day I had an interesting thought about how much I think while I'm riding. It takes between 7-10 minutes for me to ride from my place to campus, depending on traffic but it is a solid time for thinking. When I am driving my car, the radio is on and I'm either listening to music or sports talk radio. Sometimes Meg is in the car with me and I'm talking to her. Other times the only thing I can think about is whether or not I think I'm going to find parking.
But it's not like that when I ride. I take the same path to campus so I don't have to think about the route. I know there will be parking because there's always parking. If I'm biking it usually means that I'm not running late so there's a laid back atmosphere to things as well. I don't play any music or anything while I ride (although I could via my phone if I wanted). Pretty much, it's just me alone with my thoughts.
Of course, that leads to the question that I'm sure is on your mind. What do I think about when I'm biking? The honest answer is that I think about everything and nothing at the same time. I think about the future and what's going to happen a few years from now if we stay in Columbia. I think about the past and wonder if I handled situations correctly. I have conversations with myself about one thing or another. I cook up plans for my next date night with Meg or a new idea for New Student Outreach. Sometimes I see a bird and think about how great it is to be a Cardinals fan. Really, it's a hodgepodge of goodness.
There is one disadvantage to thinking while biking. It is that I can't write down any ideas that I have. I don't have the balance to bike with fewer than 2 hands unless I have to do a turn signal, so I certainly can't write down an idea or use a voice recorder. When I'm driving I at least have the ability to record my thoughts and listen to them later. While I'm biking, I just have to hope that I remember. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. (Let's be honest, I usually don't).
So there's that. 15-20 minutes a day with a man alone with his thoughts, sometimes just thinking about thinking. It's not much, but it's something. Maybe my next great idea will come from a bike ride one of these days.
Stats:
Places: Pretty much just campus (exciting, I know...)
Distance: 6.2 miles ($.57)
Meters: 8 hours on campus ($8)
Total: $8.57
Grand Total: $360.42
Left to Save: $222.61
Happy Biking!
~Adam
It's been a relatively light few days from a biking standpoint but that won't get me down. We still logged a few miles and saved some cash by parking on campus. You know how much I love saving money. =0).
As I was riding to campus the other day I had an interesting thought about how much I think while I'm riding. It takes between 7-10 minutes for me to ride from my place to campus, depending on traffic but it is a solid time for thinking. When I am driving my car, the radio is on and I'm either listening to music or sports talk radio. Sometimes Meg is in the car with me and I'm talking to her. Other times the only thing I can think about is whether or not I think I'm going to find parking.
But it's not like that when I ride. I take the same path to campus so I don't have to think about the route. I know there will be parking because there's always parking. If I'm biking it usually means that I'm not running late so there's a laid back atmosphere to things as well. I don't play any music or anything while I ride (although I could via my phone if I wanted). Pretty much, it's just me alone with my thoughts.
Of course, that leads to the question that I'm sure is on your mind. What do I think about when I'm biking? The honest answer is that I think about everything and nothing at the same time. I think about the future and what's going to happen a few years from now if we stay in Columbia. I think about the past and wonder if I handled situations correctly. I have conversations with myself about one thing or another. I cook up plans for my next date night with Meg or a new idea for New Student Outreach. Sometimes I see a bird and think about how great it is to be a Cardinals fan. Really, it's a hodgepodge of goodness.
There is one disadvantage to thinking while biking. It is that I can't write down any ideas that I have. I don't have the balance to bike with fewer than 2 hands unless I have to do a turn signal, so I certainly can't write down an idea or use a voice recorder. When I'm driving I at least have the ability to record my thoughts and listen to them later. While I'm biking, I just have to hope that I remember. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. (Let's be honest, I usually don't).
So there's that. 15-20 minutes a day with a man alone with his thoughts, sometimes just thinking about thinking. It's not much, but it's something. Maybe my next great idea will come from a bike ride one of these days.
Stats:
Places: Pretty much just campus (exciting, I know...)
Distance: 6.2 miles ($.57)
Meters: 8 hours on campus ($8)
Total: $8.57
Grand Total: $360.42
Left to Save: $222.61
Happy Biking!
~Adam
Thursday, August 15, 2013
New Resolve...
Hello, friends!
If you are friends with me on Facebook, you've probably seen that I have been biking a lot these past few days. I haven't decided yet if I am going to keep automatically updating my rides but at the very least, it's forced me to blog again, which is a good thing, right? =0).
A few weeks ago, Megan and I moved (for me "back") to Columbia. It was a tough move as we've built up a ton of friends and such while in St. Louis. It was not fun leaving them all. Still, one thing that I was very much looking forward to, besides having a house instead of an apartment, is that I would be able to start biking again! Sulu has been lonely without me (as evidenced by all the air I needed to put in his tires when I rode him last week) and I was eager to stop spending money on gas and start saving money by biking.
There's and old saying that when someone hasn't done something for a while but they never really forgot how to do it, they say it is "just like riding a bicycle." I think it is something about muscle memory or something like that. Well, getting back to biking has literall to Savey been just like riding a bicycle. It feels so good to be back in the saddle, to pedal up and down College Ave, and to think about all the money I'm saving as I lock Sulu up to the bike rack.
Friends, by my last count, prior to this post I had just about $244 left to save before Sulu was "paid in full." After riding these past few days, I have a whole new resolve to get this thing done this school year. My goal is to have made back all the money I spent buying Sulu but May 1, 2014. I am motivated and I am ready. Let's do this!
Stats (since Friday):
Places traveled: Ernie's, the Plasma Spot, and campus a few times.
Distance: 18.25 miles ($1.71)
Meters: 2 hours downtown ($1.20) + 10 hours on campus ($10)
Total: $12.91
Grand Total: $351.85
Left to Save: $231.18
Happy Biking!
~Adam
If you are friends with me on Facebook, you've probably seen that I have been biking a lot these past few days. I haven't decided yet if I am going to keep automatically updating my rides but at the very least, it's forced me to blog again, which is a good thing, right? =0).
A few weeks ago, Megan and I moved (for me "back") to Columbia. It was a tough move as we've built up a ton of friends and such while in St. Louis. It was not fun leaving them all. Still, one thing that I was very much looking forward to, besides having a house instead of an apartment, is that I would be able to start biking again! Sulu has been lonely without me (as evidenced by all the air I needed to put in his tires when I rode him last week) and I was eager to stop spending money on gas and start saving money by biking.
There's and old saying that when someone hasn't done something for a while but they never really forgot how to do it, they say it is "just like riding a bicycle." I think it is something about muscle memory or something like that. Well, getting back to biking has literall to Savey been just like riding a bicycle. It feels so good to be back in the saddle, to pedal up and down College Ave, and to think about all the money I'm saving as I lock Sulu up to the bike rack.
Friends, by my last count, prior to this post I had just about $244 left to save before Sulu was "paid in full." After riding these past few days, I have a whole new resolve to get this thing done this school year. My goal is to have made back all the money I spent buying Sulu but May 1, 2014. I am motivated and I am ready. Let's do this!
Stats (since Friday):
Places traveled: Ernie's, the Plasma Spot, and campus a few times.
Distance: 18.25 miles ($1.71)
Meters: 2 hours downtown ($1.20) + 10 hours on campus ($10)
Total: $12.91
Grand Total: $351.85
Left to Save: $231.18
Happy Biking!
~Adam
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Still Alive...
Hello, friends!
It's pretty obvious that I haven't been biking much, yeah? My last post was April 18th and it wasn't anything spectacular. Since then, I've barely ridden Sulu. Between travel, storms, and lack of time in CoMO, I really haven't gotten around to doing much besides driving The Rolla around places.
All signs point to that changing in about a month or so when Meg and I move to CoMO but until then, Penny Peddling is on a bit of a hiatus. We'll get back to it when we can though, yeah? We're past the halfway point and there's no way I'm giving up now! =0).
Happy Biking!
~Adam
It's pretty obvious that I haven't been biking much, yeah? My last post was April 18th and it wasn't anything spectacular. Since then, I've barely ridden Sulu. Between travel, storms, and lack of time in CoMO, I really haven't gotten around to doing much besides driving The Rolla around places.
All signs point to that changing in about a month or so when Meg and I move to CoMO but until then, Penny Peddling is on a bit of a hiatus. We'll get back to it when we can though, yeah? We're past the halfway point and there's no way I'm giving up now! =0).
Happy Biking!
~Adam
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Missed Opportunities...
Hello, friends!
This week was going to be the week! I was going to be soooooo all over the biking groove. I only had 2 days in CoMO but I was going to make the most of them. Honestly, friends, I'd been feeling a little discouraged about my progress the past few weeks, so this week was going to be the pick-me-up I needed to get back into the game. Here was the plan:
TUESDAY:
- Arrive in CoMO around 11am
- Bike to my lunch appointment downtown @ 12:30
- Get picked up from my lunch appointment to go grocery shopping w' a student @ 2
- Get dropped off again and bike to my next appoinment on campus @ 4
- Stay on campus until 7 when I had a phone appoinment
WEDNESDOY:
- Bike to my noon prayer meeting on campus
- Bike downtown for my 12:30 meeting
- Bike back to campus for my 2, 3, 4, and 5pm meetings
- Stay on campus for Large Group prep starting @ 6
- Bike back to the Man Cave after Large Group @ 9
- Drive home to StL
If everything had gone my way, Tuesday would have yielded $5.10 in meters. Wednesday would have given me $7.40 in meters. The mileage would have been negligible but still, every little bit helps, right?
Here's what really happened.
Tuesday actually went as planned. Hooray!!!
Wednesday was a mess.
- A student really needed to talk to me so I got a late start getting to campus, meaning I had to drive instead of bike in order to make it to the prayer meeting.
- Since I had to drive to the prayer meeting, I also had to drive to my second meeting downtown.
- I did get to get back home and bike to my 2pm and stay on campus for my 3pm and 4pm.
- However, there was a tornado warning that threatened to keep me in CoMO until Friday (that, in reality, only lasted about 2 hours), so I skipped my 5pm and Large Group to drive back to StL.
- While biking back to the Man Cave, I busted a tire and had to walk back half of the way.
So, I had the chance. I really did. I just couldn't capitalize on it. Alas, this week was good but not great. =0).
Anyway, here are the stats:
Distance: 6.5 miles ($.61)
Meter: 3.5 hours downtown ($2.10) + 6 hours on campus ($6)
Total: $8.71
Grand Total: $338.94
Left to Save: $244.09
I am going to try to fix the flat tire myself but if not, that will cost a few dollars too... alas...
Happy Biking!
~Adam
This week was going to be the week! I was going to be soooooo all over the biking groove. I only had 2 days in CoMO but I was going to make the most of them. Honestly, friends, I'd been feeling a little discouraged about my progress the past few weeks, so this week was going to be the pick-me-up I needed to get back into the game. Here was the plan:
TUESDAY:
- Arrive in CoMO around 11am
- Bike to my lunch appointment downtown @ 12:30
- Get picked up from my lunch appointment to go grocery shopping w' a student @ 2
- Get dropped off again and bike to my next appoinment on campus @ 4
- Stay on campus until 7 when I had a phone appoinment
WEDNESDOY:
- Bike to my noon prayer meeting on campus
- Bike downtown for my 12:30 meeting
- Bike back to campus for my 2, 3, 4, and 5pm meetings
- Stay on campus for Large Group prep starting @ 6
- Bike back to the Man Cave after Large Group @ 9
- Drive home to StL
If everything had gone my way, Tuesday would have yielded $5.10 in meters. Wednesday would have given me $7.40 in meters. The mileage would have been negligible but still, every little bit helps, right?
Here's what really happened.
Tuesday actually went as planned. Hooray!!!
Wednesday was a mess.
- A student really needed to talk to me so I got a late start getting to campus, meaning I had to drive instead of bike in order to make it to the prayer meeting.
- Since I had to drive to the prayer meeting, I also had to drive to my second meeting downtown.
- I did get to get back home and bike to my 2pm and stay on campus for my 3pm and 4pm.
- However, there was a tornado warning that threatened to keep me in CoMO until Friday (that, in reality, only lasted about 2 hours), so I skipped my 5pm and Large Group to drive back to StL.
- While biking back to the Man Cave, I busted a tire and had to walk back half of the way.
So, I had the chance. I really did. I just couldn't capitalize on it. Alas, this week was good but not great. =0).
Anyway, here are the stats:
Distance: 6.5 miles ($.61)
Meter: 3.5 hours downtown ($2.10) + 6 hours on campus ($6)
Total: $8.71
Grand Total: $338.94
Left to Save: $244.09
I am going to try to fix the flat tire myself but if not, that will cost a few dollars too... alas...
Happy Biking!
~Adam
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