the first day of summer

i spotted the first top-down, girl-filled convertible of 2007 this afternoon.

and if my backyard wasn't snowed-in, i'd have gotten one of mine out, too!

but alas, i rode my bike . . .

as beardo put it, "it's nice to riding with guys who need haircuts."

and it was. it started yesterday, with a call from my friend wade,

who said he's training for the all9yards/hyvee triathlon

that our team is putting on this summer.

he's been training with a bunch of women in a class at the ankeny "y"

and wanted to get back outside on his bike.

we met at the orphanage at 300, after beardo arrived,

and off we were. beardo told us of his encounter with

the first bitch of spring, who honked severely at him on the drake campus

for riding his bike on a warm, sunny day.

it was a wonderful ride, heading out through a slowly awakening

water works park and onto park avenue.

we'd discovered that the city has created a great new bike lane

on park avenue: it's right down the middle of the street,

bounded on either side by a yellow stripe.

no cars, no splashing, no hassles.

who knew that passing lanes could be so safe?

not much more to report, other than the carnival we found

somewhere north and east of norwalk.

we saw where they carnies tied up their petting zoos during the winter.

it had a real diane arbus starkness about it.

i've gotta go back with a camera and a schpiel.

upon my return, it was to the basement to attack my team jj coat

with "spray and scrub and wash" so it will be dry

and ready for tomorrow's ride.

after six long weeks of winter's fury [we are such wimps here],

i was claiming myself race-ready.

that is, ready for someone to hand my ass to me in a race.

will it be you?

+ + + + +

and on another note, many people have asked,

"mostly reverend, what is the secret of your success?"

well, the answer is right here.